The verso portrays an elephant facing right, with its trunk defiantly raised upwards, about to trample what appears to be a horned serpent, and, in exergue, the simple, yet striking, legend of CAESAR. These religious symbols emphasize Caesar’s religious post as well as provide a reminder of his claimed relationship with the gods, such as Venus. The obverse depicts religious implements associated with Caesar’s office of Pontifex Maximus: a culullus (a ritual cap), an aspergillum (a brush used to sprinkle holy water), a securis (a single-bladed, double-handed, and animal-headed axe), and a simpulum (a long-handled ladle used at sacrifices, for example to share libations). These coins were struck by Caesar’s military mint in the millions - without formal Senate approval – to advertise both his own achievements and the shortcomings of his opponents. This silver and gold was used for striking coins, such as this so-called elephant denarius, the first coin directly attested to the Caesarian side during the civil war. He addressed the remaining Senators, and, with his growing political power and extraordinary charisma, managed to procure vast quantities of public precious metals. Caesar had recently led his troops across the Rubicon, and arrived in a Rome deserted by his political enemies. A notable example is this famous denarius, struck by Julius Caesar soon after he triggered the Great Roman Civil War.Ĭaesar probably struck this marvel of self-promotion in mid 49 BC, a crossroads in ancient history. More than a means for exchanging goods and services, they publicized - and even influenced – the very course of ancient history. Their wondrous, diverse iconography frequently epitomizes the setting in which they were struck. Ancient coins provide us with a palpable link to a specific time and place in history.
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