denarius, Roman Republic, 44 BCE

Date44 BCE

CultureRoman

MediumSilver

DimensionsCoin Dimensions: 1.84 cm, 3.87 g

Credit LineTransfer from Vassar College Classics Department, 1968

On View

Not on view

PeriodRoman Republic

Classification(s)

Coins and Medals

Denomination

Denarius

Language

Latin

Minting Official

L. Aemilius Buca, M. Mettius, P. Sepullius Macer, and C. Cossutius Maridianus

Minting Location

Rome

Region

Italy

Obverse Description

A border of dots surrounds the wreathed head of Caesar, facing right, and behind, there is a crescent. CAESAR IM is inscribed downwards, before, and behind, P M is inscribed upwards, behind.

Obverse Expanded

CAESAR IMPERATOR PONTIFEX MAXIMUS

Obverse Legend

CAESAR IM P M

Obverse Translated

Caesar, imperator, pontifex maximus.

Reverse Description

A border of dots surrounds Venus, facing left, with Victory in her right hand and a sceptre in her left. L AEMILIUS is inscribed downwards, behind, and BUCA is inscribed upwards, before.

Reverse Expanded

LUCIUS AEMILIUS BUCA

Reverse Legend

L AEMILIUS BUCA

Reverse Translated

Lucius Aemilius Buca

BibliographyCrawford, 480.4DescriptionIn the year 44 BCE, Julius Caesar began to strike coins bearing the portrait of a living man for the first time in Roman history. This coin displays on its obverse Caesar's own likeness, accompanied by the letters P M, which stand for PONTFEX MAXIMUS, "chief priest." Venus, once prominently placed on the obverse of Caesar's coins, has been moved to the reverse, where she holds a winged Victory in her right hand and a scepter in her left.

Terms

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email loebcollections@vassar.edu