Ancient Roman Imperatorial - 48-47 BCE Julius Caesar AR Denarius NGC Choice XF

Ancient Rome - 48-47 BC Julius Caesar AR Denarius NGC Choice XF $2,550.

This coin commemorates Caesar's conquest of Gaul upon its reverse, with its presentation of captured Gallic plunder: the shield, the Gallic 'carnyx' or war horn, and axe. This victory was the event that enabled him to take control of the Roman Republic and become its dictator. This great victory in Gaul enabled Caesar to cultivate and grow his power base through fame as the conqueror of such a large swath of land with so many people, as well as through the strength as the commander of forces that became ever more battle-tested and intensely loyal. Plus his provinces of Gaul provided Caesar with a magistrate's immunity from the trial his foes had planned to carry out upon his return to Rome, which would have hurt his career greatly. It was from his province of Cisalpine Gaul that he attacked Italy across the Rubicon. This was executed with the Legio XIII Gemina, fiercely loyal troops who fought for him in the most important battles of his subjugation of Gaul. The significance of his conquest of Gaul is the reason this coin was minted. It was produced a while after he had left Gaul, by the traveling mint that accompanied with army across the Mediterranean and beyond. This issue was more than likely struck in Greece after the conquest of Pompey in Pharsalus. It documents--and provides a memento to the men Caesar paid with this coin--of his and their heroic conquest of the enemies of Rome in Gaul.