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Primary sourceArtifact47-46 BCE

Silver Denarius of Julius Caesar

47-46 BCE

A silver coin struck in Caesar's name around 47-46 BCE, showing armed figures and the inscription CAESAR.

Struck under Caesar's authority, this coin is direct physical evidence of how he presented himself during his rule.

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Photograph of a silver coin on a grey background, reverse side showing a standing figure with a spear and a helmeted figure with a shield beside it, with the word CAESAR inscribed on the right and a beaded border around the rim.
Silver denarius of Julius Caesar, 47-46 BCE. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this source

What it is

This silver coin, called a denarius, was struck in Julius Caesar's name around 47-46 BCE. It is held today at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Its reverse side shows a standing figure holding a spear next to a helmeted figure with a shield, with the word CAESAR inscribed beside them.

Why it matters

This coin was produced under Caesar's rule and used imagery connected to military power. Coins were an important tool for rulers in Rome to communicate messages about themselves to ordinary people who used money every day.

Look closer

  • Why might Caesar choose armed figures for the design of this coin?
  • What does the word CAESAR on the coin tell us about how he wanted to be recognized?
  • What can a coin's imagery tell us that a statue or painting cannot?

This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Julius Caesar on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Manuscript page of Caesar's Commentarii de Bello Gallico, with a red-ink title line, a large illuminated initial C with gold and blue decoration, black Latin text in columns, a floral border with blue and red flourishes, a library stamp, and a coat of arms at lower right.Book

Primary source

Commentarii de Bello Gallico

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Engraving of a standing male figure in Roman armor with a draped cloak over one shoulder, a pleated leather-style skirt with decorative lappets, and sandals, resting on a plinth. His right arm is extended outward, left hand holds a small object. The caption below reads Julius Cesar. Monochrome line hatching on a striped background.Painting

Secondary source

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Engraved print of the murder of Julius Caesar. On the left, a bearded man with a crown and laurel-like headpiece is stabbed by a man lunging with a dagger; another figure raises a weapon behind. A radiant light and smoke rise above. On the right, an ornate colonnaded interior with a niche holding a statue and an arched doorway. Caption below reads 'Iulius Caesar in stellam' and page number 150.Painting

Secondary source

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Primary source

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Engraving with a Latin caption reading 'Iulius Caesar Veneris beneficio in Cometam mutatur' (plate 150). A man in a laurel wreath, bare-chested and draped, is embraced by a standing figure and a woman with a star-shaped comet. A winged cupid flies at upper right, and a large cloud fills the background.Painting

Secondary source

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