Collecting the Coins of Julius Caesar
How do you collect Julius Caesar coins? The clearest approach is to separate Caesar's coinage into lifetime military issues, lifetime portrait issues of 44 BC, provincial or local issues connected with his authority, and posthumous Divus Julius coinage struck after his assassination.
That distinction helps collectors avoid one of the biggest sources of confusion: not every coin connected to Julius Caesar was struck during his lifetime, and not every coin bearing his name shows his portrait.
What Is the Best Julius Caesar Coin for a First Collection?
For many collectors, the famous elephant denarius is the natural starting point. It was struck during Caesar's civil war, conventionally dated to 49–48 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 or another symbolic object—have been proposed. The coin is historically important even though the precise meaning of the design is not settled.
Caesar's Traveling-Mint and Civil War Denarii
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.
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.
Why Are Caesar Portrait Denarii So Expensive?
Demand is driven by the combination of Julius 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.
Price can change dramatically with portrait quality, centering, complete legends, surfaces, strike, moneyer, reverse type, rarity, and provenance. A worn but identifiable portrait issue may still cost far more than a sharper non-portrait Caesar denarius.
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; its precise mint attribution has been debated.
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.
Can You Collect Julius Caesar on a Lower Budget?
Yes, but “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.
How to Evaluate a Julius Caesar Coin
- Lifetime or posthumous? Determine whether it was struck before or after Caesar's death.
- Portrait or non-portrait? Lifetime portrait denarii carry a major premium.
- Exact attribution: Check moneyer, mint, date, legends, and reference number.
- Surfaces: Watch for tooling, smoothing, harsh cleaning, crystallization, or casting evidence.
- Strike and centering: Complete legends and a full portrait can matter greatly.
- Provenance: Older documented ownership can add confidence and desirability, especially on expensive examples.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest Julius Caesar coin?
There is no single cheapest type. Common worn lifetime non-portrait denarii and some securely attributed provincial or posthumous issues are generally less expensive than Caesar's lifetime portrait denarii.
Is the elephant denarius a lifetime coin of Julius Caesar?
Yes. It was struck during Caesar's lifetime, conventionally dated to 49–48 BC.
Does the elephant denarius show Caesar's portrait?
No. The famous elephant type does not show Julius Caesar's face.
When did Julius Caesar first appear on Roman coins?
His living portrait appeared on Roman denarii in 44 BC, the year of his assassination.
Are Divus Julius coins lifetime Caesar coins?
No. Divus Julius coinage is posthumous and belongs to the political use of Caesar's deified memory after his death.
Final Thought
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.