Julius Caesar - Died 44 BC, AR Denarius, Great Portrait - Closed at:US $1,750.00 Auction Date:Dec-01-07 09:00:00 PST ROMAN IMPERATORIAL PERIOD: Julius Caesar, died 44 BC, AR denarius (3.49g), Rome. Cr 480/10; Syd 1073; CRI 107a; BMCRR 4169; B Julia 48; C 38. Struck February to March in 44 BC, CAESAR - DICT PERPETVO, wreathed head of Caesar right / P. SEPVLLIVS / MACER, Venus standing left, holding Victory on extended right hand and resting on sceptre held in left, shield on ground to right. 18.8 mm; Die axis 9.5, EF to Mint State. Estimated Value $3,000 - 5,000. This is one of the best portraits of Julius Caesar in existence. Excellent metal with attractive golden red iridescent toning around portrait. Razor sharp detail where the strike was made. The wreath on Caesar is fully struck which is very difficult to find. This coin is part of a research paper to be published by John Vander Weit. The study relates to the preparation of silver flans in the Rome mint circa 46-43 BC. The author proposes that the flans during that period were prepared by pouring the molten silver into trays that had numerous small indentations engraved into them. Thus, one side of the flan would have numerous raised bumps on one side. If the coin was struck on center and evenly, they would disappear. However, Republican moneyers were notorious for their misses. When they missed a direct strike, the coin would still have the unstruck bumps showing. These bumps would wear off quickly because the unstruck silver was softer. Consequently, the only evidence we have of this flan preparation technique is from coins similar to this, where the strike is off center and the coin is not circulated. On this coin we can see evidence of the bumps on the reverse bottom. Clark Smith 1537 4th Street San Rafael, California 94901 USA Tel: 415-457-1371, Fax: 415-457-0340 email: csmith1541@yahoo.com Stephen Album Rare Coins P.O. Box 7386 Santa Rosa, California 95407 USA Tel: 707-539-2120, Fax: 707-539-3348 email: orders@stevealbum.com