ROMAN REPUBLIC. L. Iulius Caesar. Rome, c. 103 BC
ROMAN REPUBLIC. L. Iulius Caesar. Rome, c. 103 BC
AR Denarius, 3.87g (17mm, 7h). Helmeted head of Mars l. (helmet has long crest and plume on each side); behind, CAESAR upwards; above, [control mark] / Venus in biga of Cupids l., holding scepter in mark; below, lyre; in exergue, L.IVLI.L.F. Border of dots.
Pedigree: Ex Gitta Kastner 12, München 1976, lot 170 and Ex Bankhaus Aufhäuser 12, München 1996, lot 310
References: Bab. 4; BMC -; Crawf. 320/1; Syd. 593 a.
Grade: Nicely struck with iridescent toning. EF. (rr1234)
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The gods or goddesses chosen by Republican moneyers for their coinage typically alludes to the family name in some way or is a pun on the name of the moneyer. L. Iulius Caesar is a family member of the most famous Julius Caesar (Gaius Julius Caesar) who died on the Ides of March in 44 BC. According to Crawford, the reverse type symbolizes the descent of the Iulii (Julii) from Venus by way of Aeneas and Ascanius-Iulus. Ascanius was the son of Aeneas, the Trojan hero and Creusa, the daughter of King Priam. Aeneas was the son of Venus and Anchises. The lyre symbol associates the Iulii with the god Apollo. The Julii were people from the Alban area (Alba Longa about 12 kilometers southeast of Rome).
