Julius Caesar AR Denarius 46-45 BC Trophy & Captives Silver Coin Crawford 468/1

• Denomination: Denarius

• Historical Period: Roman: Republic (300 BC-27 BC)

• Provenance: Ex-Harper Field Auction

• Composition: Silver

•  Denomination: Silver Denarius

• Weight: 3.84 grams (An excellent, full standard weight for a republican denarius)

• Mints: Military mint travelling with Caesar (often attributed to Spain or Rome)

• References: Crawford 468/1; Sydenham 1014; RSC 13

Design Breakdown

Obverse 

• Description: Head of Venus facing right, wearing a diadem and a necklace. Behind her neck, a small figure of Cupid (or Victoria) is visible.

• Significance: Caesar heavily utilized the image of Venus on his coinage to reinforce his family’s claim of divine descent (Gens Julia claiming lineage from Ascanius/Iulus, the son of Aeneas, who was the son of Venus).

Reverse 

• Description: A central trophy of Gallic arms (including a helmet, cuirass, oval shields, and carnyces/war trumpets). At the base of the trophy sit two despondent captives: a female captive on the left resting her head in her hand (personifying Gallia), and a male captive on the right with his hands bound behind his back (often associated with Vercingetorix).

• Legend: CAESAR in the exergue.

• Significance: This is a direct celebration of his conquest of Gaul, highlighting the submission of the native populations and the triumph of Roman military dominance.

Condition & Appearance

The coin displays a lovely light grey toning over honest, even circulation wear. The details on the trophy and the captive figures are exceptionally sharp, and the obverse portrait retains great facial definition. Crucially, the reverse legend "CAESAR" is fully legible and well-centered.