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Posted 10/10/2014 10:42 am
The one 'Julius Caesar' coin which I am rather eager to acquire (unlikely anytime soon !) is a moneyer's issue by L Aemilius Buca and does not even bear the name of Caesar.
L Aemilius Buca AR Denarius. January 44 BC. Diademed head of Venus Victrix right / Allegedly "Sulla's Dream" - Reclining male figure left; before him, Luna seated left on rock, extending lighted torch in right hand; behind him, Victory standing almost to front, holding cursor's long palmae staff in raised right hand. Cr480/1, Syd 1064.
The image on the reverse has long been interpreted as being of "Sulla's Dream". The attribution of Luna is reasonable since she has the billowing veil around her head (crescent moon) but in this incarnation we are looking at her as Diana Lucifera or 'the bringer of light'. The description states she is seated on rocks. This requires the reclining figure to be at an angle though. Clearly she is descending from what might be called a mountain. The Victory behind "Sulla" also seems to be waving a palm over the prostrate figure. Lastly the figure does not look well. The head seems to be turned upward and it does not appear to be someone sleeping in bed waking from a strange dream.
The attribution of Jan 44BC would imply that this is a coin issued just prior to the assassination of Julius Caesar.
Some few have argued that it is actually from the month following the Ides of March. How they determine the precise month is beyond me.
Occasionally the portrait of Venus on the obverse even includes a 'cruciform' ear ring to add to the 'mystique'.
The concept of a resurrection was not a completely novel idea in ancient Rome. In fact St. Augustin of Hippo later wrote that he witnessed several !
It does seem like a stretch. But the argument that this actually depicts Caesar is not so easily dismissed
L Aemilius Buca AR Denarius. January 44 BC. Diademed head of Venus Victrix right / Allegedly "Sulla's Dream" - Reclining male figure left; before him, Luna seated left on rock, extending lighted torch in right hand; behind him, Victory standing almost to front, holding cursor's long palmae staff in raised right hand. Cr480/1, Syd 1064.
The image on the reverse has long been interpreted as being of "Sulla's Dream". The attribution of Luna is reasonable since she has the billowing veil around her head (crescent moon) but in this incarnation we are looking at her as Diana Lucifera or 'the bringer of light'. The description states she is seated on rocks. This requires the reclining figure to be at an angle though. Clearly she is descending from what might be called a mountain. The Victory behind "Sulla" also seems to be waving a palm over the prostrate figure. Lastly the figure does not look well. The head seems to be turned upward and it does not appear to be someone sleeping in bed waking from a strange dream.
The attribution of Jan 44BC would imply that this is a coin issued just prior to the assassination of Julius Caesar.
Some few have argued that it is actually from the month following the Ides of March. How they determine the precise month is beyond me.
Occasionally the portrait of Venus on the obverse even includes a 'cruciform' ear ring to add to the 'mystique'.
The concept of a resurrection was not a completely novel idea in ancient Rome. In fact St. Augustin of Hippo later wrote that he witnessed several !
It does seem like a stretch. But the argument that this actually depicts Caesar is not so easily dismissed
