CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY
- Emperor:
- Gaius Julius Caesar, as Dictator (in perpetuity)
- Denomination:
- AR Denarius
- Composition:
- Silver
- Date:
- 44 BC
- Obverse:
- CAES[AR D]ICT PERPETVO, Head of Julius Caesar right, laureate, and veiled
- Reverse:
- P·SEPV[LLIVS] MACER, Venus Victrix standing left, holding Victory on right and and leaning with left on sceptre, which rests on a shield
- Reference:
- Banti I p. 102, 140/4 (this coin cited and illustrated); Alföldi Caesar pl. LXXVI, 25-26 (same dies); BMCRR I 4173-4175; Cohen I 39; Babelon (Julia) 50 and (Sepullia) 5; Sydenham 1074; RBW 1685; Crawford 480/13; Vagi 56; Sear Imperators 107d; RSC I 39; SRCV I 1414
- Size:
- 17.89mm, 3.54g, 2h
- Province:
- Rome mint, moneyer P. Sepullius Macer
- Grade:
- EF, boldly struck, old cabinet tone, lustrous surfaces
- Rarity:
- rare
- Pedigreed:
- Provenance:
- Pedigreed: Banti Plate Coin; ex Harlan J. Berk 27th Buy or Bid Sale (13 June 2019), Lot 175; ex Karl Kress AG Auction 104 (29 April 1957), Lot 74 = Banti-Simonetti I, p. 102, no. 140/4
- Information:
- 'The coin that killed Julius Caesar'. An historically significant coin struck merely weeks before the assassination of Julius Caesar. The coin offered for sale is a plate coin - published in Banti, A. & L. Simonetti. Corpus Nummorum Romanorum. 18 Vols. (Florence, 1972-1979)
This coin, issued by the moneyer P. Sepullius Macer, belonging to a series of coins issued just before the assassination of Julius Caesar on 15 March 44 BC (the 'Ides of March'). These coins broke with Roman tradition by featuring the face of a living roman. In this way, Julius Caesar is shown as a king. The legend 'DICT PERPETVO' translates literally as 'Dictator in Perpetuity' proclaiming himself as ruler of the Roman Empire for life. His veil most likely represents his position as Pontifex Maximus, the highest religious post. The coins were issued hastily, as evidenced by their less refined style and often off-centre strikes, to fund an upcoming war with Parthia. In the eyes of the Senate, these coins showed that Caesar had gone too far.
I, Peter A. Piliouras of Ancient Coin Traders irrevocably guarantee for life to the Purchaser that this ancient coin is authentic. If this coin is deemed not to be authentic by a professional certification service, then I will refund to the Purchaser the full cost of acquiring the coin (including shipping) together with the certification fees.
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Signed: Peter Anthony Piliouras
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