Julius Caesar, Denarius

Julius Caesar, Denarius minted in North Africa c. 47-46 BCE
No legend, Diademed head of Venus right
CAESAR, Aeneas advancing left, holding palladium in his right hand and carrying Anchises on his left shoulder.
3.91 gr
Ref : Crawford # 458/1, RBW #1600, HCRI # 55, RCV #1402, Cohen #12

Background (by Curtis Heinsen) After Caesar defeated Pompey at the battle of Pharsalus, most of the remaining Optimates with a will to fight fled to Africa to regroup. Caesar followed them there in 47 BC. With characteristic boldness he crossed into North Africa during December of 47 BC with only 6 legions. A storm scattered his fleet and Caesar was forced to fight on a defensive footing for much of the campaign while he regathered his legions and waited for reinforcements. He fought an indecisive battle outside the city of Ruspina and then delivered a crushing defeat to the Optimates at the Battle of Thapsus on April 6th, 46 BC. In the aftermath, Cato and Scipio committed suicide while the remaining few holdouts fled to Hispania. These Venus / Aeneas coins were struck at a military mint travelling with Caesar on this campaign in order to pay the soldiers. The design references part of the mythological story that Virgil would write about in the Aeneid a few decades later. In my opinion, these types are the most interesting of all of Caesar’s coin issues.

Reference : 1400

Collection : Republique romaine