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The Last Years of Julius Caesar’s Life in Five Coins

Written by Sebastian L. Harris

Gaius Julius Caesar (100-44 BCE) is considered one of history’s greatest generals and statesmen, who famously defeated the Germanic king Vercingetorix during the Gallic Wars (58-50 BCE) and his former ally Pompey during the Civil War (49-45 BCE). However, he might also be described as one of the best self-promoters, as seen through his and the Caesarians’ coins. Coinage provides a wealth of knowledge on the history and motivations behind the individuals who minted or authorised them, so let us examine a sample of five coins from the final years of Julius Caesar’s life.

CIVIL WAR. After Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon in 49 BCE (both literally and figuratively), his ally-turned-enemy and senatorial champion, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, fled from Brundisium to the East, leaving Rome and the Roman Senate exposed, both of which offered little opposition. While fighting Pompey over the next two years, he established a moving mint where he minted the first coinage to bear his name. The denarius (RRC 443/1) depicts symbols of the pontifex maximus (“chief high priest”) on the obverse, a position he used to emphasise his connection with the gods. The reverse represents the perpetua discordia between elephants and snakes, where a cornered snake (Caesar) will triumph over the larger elephant (Pompey). SPOILER: Caesar did win and was given his most prominent title as a result.

1. Silver Denarius of C. Julius Caesar (49 BCE) [RRC 443/1]

DICTATOR. Although declared dictator (traditional Republican magistrate) for eleven days in early 48 BCE, he was later named dictator for one year, then ten further years after successfully ending the Civil War that year. During his time as dictator (48-44 BCE), he changed the number of magistracies and reformed the state, minting a coin portraying himself as dictator for the first time, an aureus in 47 BCE (RRC 456/1). It depicts an axe, culullus (ritual vessel), jug and lituus (military trumpet), all symbols of the pontifex maximus, and the legend DICT ITER (“Dictator for the second time”). While he also held other positions (consul, augur, pontifex maximus) [RRC 467/1], he advertised his dictator position most frequently on coins (17 times). There is, however, a more peculiar title he gave himself.

1. Gold Aureus of C. Julius Caesar (47 BCE) [RRC 456/1]

MORALS. In 46 BCE, Julius Caesar established a new office that was very similar to the censors’. This office was known as prefect of the morals. He added this position so he could wield the censorial powers and not be constrained by limitations, using this prefecture to fill the Senate with his own faction and minimise opposition. Although minted by the moneyer Publius Sepullius Macer after Caesar’s death in 44 BCE (RRC 480/21), the denarius depicts the image of Caesar as moralistic. The coin features a tetrastyle temple with the legend CLEMENTIAE CAESARIS (“Caesar the Clement”) on the obverse, with a desultor (skilled horsemen who lept from one horse or chariot to another) and moneyer’s name on the reverse (a reference to Caesar’s Games at the Parilia). He does, however, go from being moral to being authoritarian in two years.

1. Silver Denarius of P. Sepullius Macer (44 BCE) [RRC 480/21]

PERPETUO. Dictator is a word with a negative connotation, as someone who has complete and absolute power, and we can trace this use back to when Julius Caesar was named dictator perpetuo (“dictator for life”) in 44 BCE. He chose every representative in Rome, strengthening his support, so it is no surprise most coins minted in 44 BCE are pro-Caesar, including a range of silver denarii with the DICT·PERPETVO legend by the same Macer above. This coin (RRC 480/10) depicts the wreathed head of Caesar, matched by Venus (holding Victory, sceptre and shield) on the reverse; Venus being the mythical ancestor of the Julii (see RRC 458/1). It would, however, only be a matter of time before Caesar would be ‘stabbed in the back.’

1. Silver Denarius of P. Sepullius Macer (47 BCE) [RRC 480/10]

EID OF MAR. A day marked by several religious observations and notable as a deadline for settling debts (ironically), March 15th has become synonymous with Julius Caesar’s assassination. Ignoring a warning by the seer Spurinna to “beware the Ides of March,” Caesar entered the Curia of Pompey and was stabbed 23 times by 60 senators, led by Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus. To celebrate the death of Caesar, the conspirator Brutus authorised the moneyer L. Plaetorius Cestianus to mint a denarius in 43 BCE (RRC 508/3). The coin depicts the head of Brutus, and the reverse features a pileus (“cap of freedom”) between two daggers with the legend EID MAR. As to whether killing Caesar benefitted Rome or not is still debated, but arguably it was crucial for Rome’s development as an Empire.

1. Silver Denarius of L. Plaetorius Cestianus (43 BCE) [RRC 508/3]

Coins are sometimes the overlooked keys that are crucial to understanding history. These artefacts support the narrative presented in written sources (both ancient and modern), and it is through these coins that we can see the changing “face” of Caesar. We see what he stood for and how he effectively used his titles and honours to promote himself to Roman society. As to whether he was the good stateman or bad tyrant in the last years of his life, I will leave that up to you to decide.