NUMISMATISM - Lot 391

NUMISMATISM ROME (47-46 BC) Silver denarius. Obverse: portrait of the diademed head of the goddess Venus, facing right. Reverse: Trojan hero Aencas, naked and advancing to the left, holding palladium (wooden statue of Athena rescued from the ruins of Troy) in his outstretched right hand and carrying his father, Anchises, on his left shoulder. The legend reads: CÉSAR Diameter: 21 mm Weight: 3.97 g Provenance "Artancient Ldt" with guarantee of authenticity This coin was minted by order of Julius Caesar to pay the wages of his legionaries. More specifically, we know that this issue was used to finance Caesar's campaign against Pompey and his supporters in North Africa, which culminated in the Caesarian victory at Thapsus in April 46 BC.