JULIUS CAESAR. Denarius (47-46 BC). Uncertain mint in North Africa, possibly Utica.

Obv: DICT ITER COS TERT.
Head of Ceres right, wearing grain wreath.
Rev: AVGVR / PONT MAX.
Emblems of the augurate and pontificate: simpulum, aspergillum, guttus and lituus; D to right.

Crawford 467/1a; CRI 57; RBW 1637.

Ex Auktionshaus H. D. Rauch 89 (2011), lot 1343. The legends on this coin capture a precise historical moment and bear witness to the growing power that Caesar was assuming before his assassination. After his victory at Thapsus in 46 BC and the triumph celebrated that same year, Pompey’s sons regrouped in Spain and seized the Balearic Islands. Toward the end of the year, Caesar left for Spain with his best troops, and on March 17, 45 BC, he clashed with the enemy near Munda. This hard‑fought victory led to the death of all the Pompeian leaders, except Sextus Pompey, and to the celebration of Caesar’s fifth triumph. The various titles granted to Caesar are often attested on his coins. He had been consul for the first time in 59 BC (COS I) and dictator for the first time at the end of 49 (DICT I). From October 48 he obtained the second dictatorship (DICT ITER (II)), which lasted one year, and the proclamation had taken place as soon as news of Pompey’s death reached Rome. This denarius also bears the reference to his third consulship (COS TERT), obtained on December 31, 46 BC, together with Aemilius Lepidus. The reverse instead refers to the religious sphere and mentions the title of Pontifex Maximus, which placed him at the head of the Roman religious system. The letter “D” in the field of the reverse probably refers to the 'donativum' that all soldiers expected to receive for their service. Minting coinage to pay the troops during long periods of war required organization and planning to ensure that money could be transported in time to the place of distribution and to secure the loyalty of the army.

Condition: Very fine.

Weight: 3.99 g.
Diameter: 20 mm.

Estimate: € 1000.