Julius Caesar - denarius with portrait of Caesar rare! (ME2474)

Julius Caesar, 49-44 BC. Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 3.22 g), with P. Sepullius Macer, Rome, after January-February 44. CAESAR•IMP Wreathed head of Julius Caesar to right; behind, eight-pointed star. Rev. P•SEPVLLIVS - MACER Venus standing front, head lowered to left, holding Victory in her right hand and long scepter set on star in her left. Babelon (Julia) 46 and (Sepullia) 1. Crawford 480/5b. RBW 1679. Sydenham 1071. Fine

Issued from january up to february, 44. This coin represents one of the late lifetime portraits of Julius Caesar, with the title of a 'Dictator for life'. These portrait series were issued in large quantities to pay the troops gathered for Caesar's intended Parthian campaign. His assassination on the Ides of March prevented these plans. P. Sepullius Macer was the most prolific moneyer of 44 BC, striking the widest variety of Caesar portrait issues. Caesar is shown wreathed, sometimes also veiled, and his titles given as CAESAR IMP and CAESAR DICT PERPETVO, as seen on this specimen. The reverse image of Venus includes a number of minor design variants. The varying quality of portraiture and strike likewise indicate great haste of manufacture, perhaps in preparation for Caesar's projected Parthian war.