Ancient Roman Imperatorial - 44 BCE Julius Caesar AR Denarius NGC AU - P. Sepullius Macer moneyer

Struck in the year of his political murder, 44 BC, this Julius Caesar AR Denarius features an obverse of the dictator facing right with a wreathed and veiled head. DICT-PERPETVO is found left of the bust and CAESAR is to the right of the bust. The reverse presents Venus Victrix standing left with a slight bow of the head. Upon her right hand is found Victory, while a scepter is clasped in her left hand. Her shield lay on the ground by her feet. P. SEPVLLIVS to the right, and MACER to the left of Venus. Macer was the moneyer of this coin.

Statue of Julius Caesar, Via dei Fori Imperiali, Rome. Photo: wikimedia.org.

Gaius Julius Caesar played a major part in bringing about the end of the Roman Republic and setting the stage for the nascent Roman Empire. Caesar's victories in the Gallic Wars, which ended in 51 BC, saw Roman territory extend to both the English Channel and the Rhine River. It was in 49 BC that Caesar's actions resulted in civil war, after which he found himself in a position of great power and influence. Upon seizing control of the government, he began to centralize the bureaucracy and was proclaimed "dictator in perpetuity." But political conflicts were rife,  and Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March (15 March) 44 BC.