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Research Coins: The Coin Shop

 
300102. Sold For $5000

JULIUS CAESAR. 40 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.96 g, 2h). Rome mint. Tiberius Sempronius Graccus, moneyer. No legend, laureate head of Caesar right / Legionary standard, aquila, plow and surveyer's rod; S C between; TI SEMPROMIVS above, GRACCVS below, Q DESIG at left. Crawford 525/3; CRI 327; Sydenham 1128; RSC 48. Good VF, toned.

Ex William C. Boyd Collection (Baldwin's, 26 September 2005), lot 85, with his original ticket (numbered 1); purchased March 1904.

This most interesting and informative coin was issued under Octavian by one Tiberius Sempronius Graccus, as "Quaestor Designatus". Sear in CRI corrects Seaby in RSC (et al.), recognising the "sceptre" as a (10-foot long) surveyer's rod used to divide allotments of land granted to retiring soldiers. Along with the plow it most likely refers to the ressetlement of veterans of the Perusine War, who are symbolized by the standard and aquila. (Perusia was occupied by Lucius Antony, and besieged by Octavian. It capitulated in February, 40 BC. Lucius Antony was pardoned and later made governor of Spain). Apparently it was an emergency issue, since it required Senatorial approval - thus the "S.C." Caesar's portrait, which required no legend, would have reminded active as well as retiring troops that their leader Octavian was Caesar's true hier.