The Caesarians. Julius Caesar. March-April 44 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 4.08 g, 3h). Rome mint; M. Mettius, moneyer. EF.

Triton XXVII
Lot: 613. Estimated: $ 10 000

Roman Republican, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 20 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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The Caesarians. Julius Caesar. March-April 44 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 4.08 g, 3h). Rome mint; M. Mettius, moneyer. Laureate head right; CAESAR downwards to right, IMPER upwards to left / Venus Victrix standing left, holding Victory in extended right hand and transverse scepter in left, resting her left elbow on shield set on celestial globe to right; A to left, M • METTIVS downwards to right. Crawford 480/17; Alföldi Type XVI, 59 (A9/R7); CRI 101; Sydenham 1055; RSC 35; BMCRR Rome 4137; Kestner –; RBW 1686. Toned, underlying luster, a few light scratches on reverse. EF. Well struck with a bold and expressive portrait.

Verism, a style of portraiture that strives to be hyper-realistic in its depiction of the subject “warts and all,” can be traced as far back as the reign of the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten in the 13th century BC. It came to its full fruition in the late Roman Republic, perhaps influenced by the practice of making wax masks of the deceased. Caesar was the first living Roman to place his image on coins, and, in keeping with the style of portrait busts in stone and bronze, many of his numismatic portraits are veristic to the extreme. It is surprising to modern sensibilities that a man of his alleged vanity would allow himself to be portrayed with the balding pate, sagging jowls, and long “turkey neck” seen on this lifetime denarius. But it was clearly less important to Caesar that he be flattered with an idealized portrait, in the manner of Hellenistic kings, than to have his image convey the power and gravitas that only age and experience could provide.

The final winners of all Triton XXVII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 9-10 January 2024.

Triton XXVII – Session Two – Lot 338–647 will be held Tuesday afternoon, 9 January 2024 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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