Crawford 480/10, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Julius Caesar, AR Denarius

Rome. The Imperators.
Julius Caesar and P. Sepullius Macer, 44 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.84g; 20mm).
Rome Mint, Feb-Mar 44 BCE.

Obverse: CAESAR - DICT PERPETVO; wreathed head of Julius Caesar facing right.

Reverse: P SEPVLLIVS – MACER; Venus facing left, holding Victory and staff; shield at feet.

References: Crawford 480/10; HCRI 107a; Sydenham 1073: Julia 48; Alföldi, Plate LXVI, No. 2 (this coin illustrated).

Provenance: Ex Andrew McCabe Collection; privately purchased from Ritter 2010; ex Rauch Auction 85 (26 Nov 2009) Lot 323; ex Professor L. Fontana Collection (bef. 1974).

Caesar was granted the title of Dictator for Life in mid-February, 44 BCE, thus all coins bearing DICT PERPETVO inscriptions can be firmly dated to the final month of Caesar’s life. This was a period of massive coinage output because Caesar was preparing for a campaign against the Parthians for which a substantial war chest would be needed. To meet the production needs, the college of moneyers was expanded from 3 to 4 moneyers. Nevertheless, manufacturing stress is evident by the frequent poor strikes and off-struck coins that survive today from these final Caesar portrait issues.

The moneyer P. Sepullius Macer struck coins during and after Caesar’s lifetime, including one type for M. Antony that also appears in my gallery. His output of coins was particularly high compared to the other three moneyers of 44 BCE. This reverse type, common among the four moneyers, alludes to the descent of the Julia gens from Venus and Anchises.