Here's a familiar figure: Gaius Julius Caesar, statesman, general, high priest. In the mid-first century BC, he was the leading political figure in Rome, at the height of his power in 45 BC. The senate showered him with exceptional honours – as the historian Cassius Dio reports:
"The senate named Caesar father of his country – pater patriae – and stamped his image on the coinage."
As you can see on this denarius struck by the moneyer Marcus Mettius. Caesar was the first living Roman to be honoured in this way. On his head, he's wearing the gold wreath of honour awarded to him. The augur's staff and bowl symbolise his consecration as augur and pontifex maximus. The reverse shows the goddess Venus – from whom Caesar claimed his family was descended.
The coin portrait of Caesar as a living man is an expression of the cult of personality surrounding him, and of his growing power. For many senators who believed in the republic, it all went too far. They assassinated him on the Ides of March in 44 BC.
Nevertheless, the coin portrait was popular and here to stay. It became an expression of royal status. From Augustus onwards, all the Roman emperors appeared on coins. And even modern-day coin portraits, whether of kings, emperors or sovereign princes, can all be traced back to this one of Gaius Julius Caesar.
Further Media
- Material & Technique
- silver, embossed
- Museum
- Münzkabinett
- Location & Dating
- Rome (Roma), n.d. (44 BC)
- Inventory number
- ABB1236