The Elephant Denarius and Civil War Silver

For many collectors, the famous elephant denarius is the natural starting point. It was struck during Caesar's civil war, conventionally dated to 49 to 48 BC, and is among the most recognizable Roman Republican coins. One side shows an elephant advancing over a long object; the other shows priestly implements associated with Caesar's office as pontifex maximus. The object beneath the elephant is disputed: it has traditionally been described as a serpent, but other interpretations, including a Gallic carnyx, have been proposed. The coin is historically important even though the precise meaning of the design is not settled.

Caesar issued substantial silver coinage during the civil wars as armies moved across the Roman world. These issues are often called traveling-mint coinage because some were struck in connection with Caesar's mobile military commands rather than at a single permanent civic mint. Besides the elephant type, collectors encounter denarii using Venus, Aeneas, trophies, captives, priestly implements, and other imagery tied to Caesar's ancestry, military victories, offices, and political claims. Attribution matters: mint, moneyer, date, legends, and control marks help distinguish Caesar's own issues from contemporary Republican coins merely associated with the same wars.

Before the civil wars, Caesar spent eight years conquering Gaul, the campaign that made him powerful enough to march on Rome. Silver from that world is the most accessible way to hold a coin from the wars that made Caesar, struck by the Gallic peoples he fought.

Silver from the Gaul Caesar Conquered

Gallic Wars Celtic Silver Quinarius

Silver from the Gaul Caesar conquered before he crossed the Rubicon, an accessible entry while you hunt a Caesar denarius. Celtic Silver · 1st Century BC · $127.50

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Did Julius Caesar Put His Own Portrait on Coins?

Yes. In 44 BC, shortly before his assassination, Roman denarii began carrying Caesar's portrait while he was still alive. That was an extraordinary development in Roman state coinage. Portraits of living Hellenistic monarchs were already familiar elsewhere in the Mediterranean, but using the living image of a Roman political leader on Roman denarii carried powerful monarchic associations.

Lifetime portrait denarii include varieties naming Caesar as dictator and, on some issues, DICT PERPETVO, dictator in perpetuity. These coins were produced during the final weeks and months of his life and are among the most sought-after coins of the late Republic. Demand is driven by the combination of Caesar's historical importance, the short production window in 44 BC, variety rarity, and the appeal of owning a coin that actually shows Caesar during his lifetime. A worn but identifiable portrait issue may still cost far more than a sharper non-portrait Caesar denarius.

Using the living image of a Roman leader on Roman denarii carried powerful monarchic associations, and it helped cost Caesar his life.

What Are Divus Julius Coins?

After Caesar's assassination on March 15, 44 BC, his adopted heir Octavian made Caesar's memory central to his political identity. Caesar was formally deified as Divus Julius, and later coinage used that status to legitimize Octavian as DIVI F, "son of the deified one." One famous bronze type pairs Octavian with a portrait of the deified Caesar and legends including CAESAR DIVI F and DIVOS IVLIVS. The issue is generally dated to the late 30s BC. Collectors can also pursue star or comet imagery linked with Caesar's deification. These are posthumous coins, not lifetime issues of Julius Caesar, but they are essential to understanding how Caesar's legacy helped Octavian become Augustus.

How to Evaluate a Julius Caesar Coin

Budget is relative with Caesar. Lower-cost routes can include worn examples of common lifetime non-portrait denarii, selected provincial or local bronze issues securely attributed to the Caesarian period, and posthumous coins connected with Divus Julius. Be especially careful with vague listings such as "coin of Julius Caesar" when the attribution is indirect. A strong listing should explain whether the coin is lifetime, posthumous, provincial, contemporary, or merely historically connected to Caesar.

Collecting Julius Caesar becomes much easier once the series is divided into clear historical categories. A collector can start with a recognizable lifetime military issue, add posthumous Divus Julius material, and eventually pursue the portrait denarii of 44 BC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hold what the greats held.