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Gaius Iulius Caesar Octavianus
"Caesaris astrum – The Star of Caesar" This coin carries a propagandistic message, referencing the divinity of Julius Caesar and an event that occurred in July 44 BCE—four months after Caesar's assassination—during a grand ceremony in his honor, the Ludi Victoriae Caesaris. During this event, a remarkably bright object appeared in the sky, capturing the attention of the gathered Romans.
The crowd, seeing the comet, interpreted it as confirmation of Caesar's divinity, believing the star to contain the soul of the fallen leader. Suetonius writes: "For seven days continuously, a comet blazed forth, rising at about the eleventh hour. It was believed to be the soul of Caesar, received into heaven. For this reason, he has since been depicted in images with a star above his head."
Denomination: Denarius suberatus, Ag
Obverse: Head of Augustus to right, wearing oak-wreath, CAESAR AVGVSTVS
Reverse: Eight-rayed comet with tail upwards, DIVVS IVLIVS
Mint: Caesaraugusta, 19-18 B.C.
Weight: 3,13 g
Diameter: 19mm
Provenance: Marciniak, ex Leu Numismatik, Web Auction 12, ex Swiss collection, formed in the mid 20th century
Reference : 1.5 RIC I 37a, RSC 98
Collection : IMPERIUM ROMANUM 01 - Julio-Claudian