Nomos 23

Julius Caesar, 44 BC. Denarius (Silver, 19 mm, 3.61 g, 1 h), struck under the magistrate M. Mettius. CAESAR IMPER Head of Julius Caesar to right wearing wreath. Rev. M · METTIVS Venus standing left, holding Victory in her right hand and scepter in her left, and leaning her left elbow on a shield resting on globe; before, D. Alföldi Type XVI, 76 (A14/R29). Crawford 480/17. CRI 101. Sydenham 1055. RSC 35. Well-centered and lightly toned with a distinctive portrait of Caesar. Nearly extremely fine.

From the collection of a Nobleman who died in 1940.

K. Kraft first noticed that the wreath worn by Caesar differs significantly from those laurel-wreaths found on earlier portrait types, as on those of Venus, for example. Therefore, he suggested that it ought to be identified as the golden wreath, which was worn by Caesar at the Lupercalia in 44 BC. M. H. Crawford, however, thought that it was rather the corona aurea that he had been awarded as a triumphator. The same type of wreath had also been voted to Pompey; it has no resemblance to the Etruscan wreaths cited by Kraft.