Lot 4770

Description

Julius Caesar, (died 44 B.C.), silver denarius, issued 49-48 B.C., mint moving with Caesar, (3.56 g), obverse brockage, obv. elephant to right, trampling on serpent, CAESAR in exergue, rev. incuse version of the obverse, (S.1399, Cr.443/1, Sear Imperators 9, Syd.1006, RSC 49). With fire damage near edge on the obverse, nearly very fine and very rare as a brockage, with only a very few known.

Ex Dr. Adrian Carr Collection with a certificate with photo from Henri J. Delgar, Wollaston, MA, USA certifying authenticity.
This was an 'extra-legal' issue of coinage by Julius Caesar, and was not authorized by the Senate. It was struck by Caesar's travelling military mint, to pay his soldiers after the famous crossing of the Rubicon, which was also not authorized by the Senate. Circulation of the coinage was facilitated more by the crisis precipitated by Caesar's advance upon Rome than by his popularity, and made necessary because the Pompeians abandoned the city and its mint as his legions approached. Since the coinage was supported by nothing more than his name (and of course his military power) it is likely that the design was approved by Caesar personally.