Caesar (minted 49-48 BCE)
Mint: likely a military mint traveling with Caesar in late 49 BCE
4.12 g silver, 21.5 mm
Sear 1399 RSC 49
Provenance: Historical Real Treasures (Agustin A Garcia B – ANA R-3120473)
Coppola Collection
This was the first coin struck in the name of Julius Caesar.
The Great Roman Civil War (“Caesar’s Civil War”) marks an important transition moment from the Roman Republic (509–27 BCE) to the Roman Empire (27 BCE–CE 476).
The War (49–45 BCE) began as a series of political and military confrontations between Julius Caesar (100–44 BCE) and the conservative, traditionalist factions of the Roman Senate, who were supported by Pompey (106–48 BCE), a contemporary of Caesar, who ended up fleeing to Egypt after the Battle of Pharsalus and getting beheaded upon arrival.
During the Republic, the river Rubiconmarked the boundary between the Roman province of Cisalpine Gaul and Italy proper.
Roman law specified that only elected magistrates could command troops within Italy. Anyone entering Italy at the head of his troops forfeited his imperium (“right to command”). Forbidden by law, exercising imperium was a capital offence. Furthermore, obeying the commands of a general who did not legally possess imperium was a capital offence. Generals were thus obliged to disband their armies before entering Italy.
In 49 BCE (attributed: January 10) C. Julius Caesar led a single legion south over the Rubiconand into Italy to make his way to Rome. In doing so, he (deliberately) broke the law and made conflict inevitable. According to descriptions of the event, Caesar uttered the famous phrase “the die has been cast” upon crossing.
The phrase “crossing the Rubicon” has survived to refer to any individual or group committing itself irrevocably to a risky or revolutionary course of action, similar to the modern phrase “passing the point of no return” or any of the other versions that appear in many languages.
Caesar was later proclaimed dictator, first for ten years and then, only half way through this first term, in 44 BCE, dictator in perpetuity (Dictator perpetuo). This proclamation motivated the end of his reign, and his life, with his assassination on March 15, 44 BCE, the Ides of March. His adopted son, Octavius, fought another civil war against remnants of the Senate, ultimately resulting in the establishment of the Roman Empire.
These coins were minted after Caesar’s invasion of Italy (crossing of the Rubicon) and until he defeated Pompey at the Battle of Pharsalus (ca. 9 August 48 BCE).
Analysts see Caesar’s elephant as trampling a carnyx (a Celtic war trumpet, decked out as a dragon), symbolizing Caesar’s victory over the Celtic tribes of Gaul. The reverse side shows items related to Caesar’s office of Pontifex Maximus, the high priest of Rome (a title now held by the Pope): culullus (cup) or simpulum (ladle), aspergillum (sprinkler), secures (sacrificial ax), and an apex (priest’s hat).