Object Description
A very fine Ancient Roman Republican silver denarius of Julius Caesar, minted by military mint travelling with Caesar in North Africa. The obverse presents the head of Venus in profile, facing right. The goddess’ hair is elegantly rolled and swept up into a chignon with some loose curls falling and resting on her neck. Her hair is held in place by a stephane and she is further decorated with a necklace. Her facial features have been beautifully rendered, with her long nose, closed lips, large eyes, and curving brows showing a serene expression. The reverse features a scene from the ‘Aeneid,’ displaying the Trojan hero, Aeneas, carrying his father Anchises as they escape the fall of Troy. Aeneas is depicted in the nude, with the details of his musculature, including his abs, chest, biceps, thighs, and calves, clearly defined. He advances to the left on a ground line, with his right leg bent and extended forwards, while his left leg, shown frontally, extends behind him. In his bent and outstretched right hand, the hero carries a Palladium, a statute of Pallas Athena. The cult image is facing left, wearing a crested helmet, holding a transverse spear and round shield. On his left shoulder, Aeneas carries his elderly father, Anchises, draped and depicted in profile. Their facial features have been rendered stylistically, with their rounded eyes, noses, hair, and Anchises’ beard, still visible. Behind, in the right field, the legend CAESAR accompanies the reverse. On both sides of the denarius, the images are surrounded by a dotted border.
Date: Circa 47-46 BC