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Roma, denarius, L. Iulius Caesar, Venus Genetrix, driving biga of Cupids
28.2.2025
..da Ancient & Medieval Coins.
Can someone help me id this denarius, thanks in advance.
fig. 1
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Rome, 28.2.2025
Please find below the significant elements concerning the coin shown:

Denarius1, mint of Rome, 103 a. C.2, Crawford 320/1 (pag. 325), Sydenham 593 (pag. 82), numismatica-classica R-G240/1-1, rarity index "(2)"

Summary description:
D. Head of Mars left, wearing crested helmet decorated with laurel branch. Dietro CAESAR rising, above control sign •S3.
R. Venus Genetrix, driving biga of Cupids4 left, sceptre in the right hand and reins in the left; above, control sign •S3; lyre below5; in exergue L·IVLI·L·F6.

A web search for coins of the figure type produced the following results:

  1. https://www.tinianumismatica.com/prodotto/iulia-cr-320-1-denario-marte-venere-su-biga/ IULIA, Cr. 320/1 – Denario Marte / Venere su biga COD: 345/14-445 Descrizione L. Iulius L.f. Sex.n. Caesar, Denario 103 a.C., Roma, Crawford 320/1 2.44g x 15mm, argento D/ CAESAR; testa di Marte con elmo piumato; in alto, M. R/ L IVLI L F; Venere, con scettro, su biga di Cupidi; in alto, B rovesciata; in basso, una lira. qBB.
  2. https://www.tinianumismatica.com/prodotto/iulia-cr-320-1-denario-marte-venere-su-biga-2/ IULIA, Cr. 320/1 – Denario Marte / Venere su biga COD: 3818/21-16 Descrizione L. Iulius L.f. Sex.n. Caesar, Denario 103 a.C., Roma, Crawford 320/1 4.02g x 18mm, Argento. D/ CAESAR; testa di Marte con elmo crestato; sopra, punto C. R/ L IVLI L F; Venere su biga trainata da due Cupido; sopra, punto C; sotto, una lira. BB.
  3. https://auctions.bertolamifinearts.com/it/lot/57760/l-julius-lf-caesar-rome-103-bc-ar-/ LOTTO 584 - E-LIVE AUCTION 73 L. Julius L.f. Caesar, Rome, 103 Aggiudicazione: 55,00GBP Numero offerte: 4. L. Julius L.f. Caesar, Rome, 103 BC. AR Denarius (14mm, 3.77g, 1h). Helmeted head of Mars l. R/ Venus Genetrix, holding sceptre, driving biga of Cupids l.; lyre below. Crawford 320/1; cf. RBW 1175; RSC Julia 4. Near VF.
  4. https://www.arsclassicacoins.com/biddr/#!/auction/lot?a=90&l=11 Auctions 97-98, lot 11 Description The Roman Republic L. Iulius Caesar. Denarius, Roma 103, AR 3.94g. Description: Helmeted head of Mars l.; above visor, F and behind, CAESAR. Rev. Venus in biga of Cupids l.; above, · / N and below, lyre. In exergue, L·IVLI·L·F. References: Babelon Julia 4 Sydenham 593 RBW 1175 Crawford 320/1 Condition: Lovely iridescent tone and about extremely fine Provenance: NAC sale 72, 2013, JD collection, 460. Bidding finished. Price realized 550 CHF. Starting price 280 CHF. Estimate 350 CHF.
  5. coins.ha Description L. Julius L.f. Caesar (ca. 103 BC). AR denarius (17mm, 3.81 gm, 4h). NGC VF 5/5 - 2/5, marks. Rome. CAESAR, head of Mars left, wearing crested helmet decorated with laurel branch / L•IVLI•L•F, Venus Genetrix driving biga of Cupids flying left, with scepter in right hand, reins in both; lyre below, pellet with R (retrograde) above. Crawford 320/1. Sydenham 593a. Julia 4a. Ex Numismatik Naumann, Auction 122 (6 November 2022), lot 575.
  6. https://www.vcoins.com/it/stores/carthago_numismatics/294/product/l_julius_l_f_caesar_ar_denarius_rome_103_bc/1707071/Default.aspx L. Julius L. f. Caesar AR Denarius. Rome, 103 BC. L. Julius L. f. Caesar AR Denarius. Rome, 103 BC. Helmeted head of Mars right; CAESAR upwards behind, C•• above / Venus Genetrix in biga of Cupids left, holding sceptre in right hand and reins in left; lyre in lower left field, Q• above, L•IVLI•L•F in exergue. Crawford 320/1; RSC Julia 3. 3.9g, 16.5mm €240.00 Quotazione: 06/27/23. L. Julius L. f. Caesar AR Denarius. Rome, 103 BC. L. Julius L. f. Caesar AR Denarius. Rome, 103 BC.
  7. vcoins Roman Republic, L. Julius L.f. Caesar. AR Denarius, Rome mint, 103 BC. Mars / Venus driving biga €251.87 Quotazione: 06/27/23. Roman Republic AR Denarius. L. Julius L.f. Caesar, moneyer Rome mint, 103 BC. Helmeted head of Mars left; retrograde L above / Venus driving biga of Cupids left, holding scepter and reins; retrograde L above, lyre below 3.87g, 16mm, silver. References: Crawford 320/1; Sydenham 593; RSC Julia 4 This Julius Caesar had a more famous nephew with the same name. Ex VAuctions 303 (January 2014), lot 240.
  8. https://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=31211 61, Lot: 136. Estimate $200. Sold for $170. L. Julius L.f. Caesar. 103 BC. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.92gm). Helmeted head of Mars left; •D• above / Venus Genetrix driving biga left, drawn by two Cupids; lyre before them, •D• above. Crawford 320/1; Sydenham 593a; Julia 4a. Toned, good VF, light porosity. From the Tony Hardy Collection. L. Julius Caesar, a member of the gens Iulia and, thereby, a relative of Caesar the Dictator, was one of the earliest members of the family to attain the consulship. Governor of Macedonia in 94 BC, and consul during the Social War, he passed the basic law which offered Roman citizenship to the Italian allies; as censor along with P. Licinius Crassus, grandfather of the triumvir, he helped to enroll the first of them. He was an opponent of Marius and was killed on the latter's return to Rome in 87 BC. He was also the grandfather of Mark Antony.
  9. https://www.baldwin.co.uk/product/l-julius-l-f-caesar-silver-denarius/ L. JULIUS L. F. CAESAR, SILVER DENARIUS Item Reference: C223013676 Sold L. Julius L. f. Caesar (103 BC). AR Denarius. Obverse: CAESAR, helmeted head of Mars facing left. Reverse. L•IVLI•L•F, Venus Genetrix driving a biga of cupids left, holding reins and… DESCRIPTION L. Julius L. f. Caesar (103 BC). AR Denarius. Obverse: CAESAR, helmeted head of Mars facing left. Reverse. L•IVLI•L•F, Venus Genetrix driving a biga of cupids left, holding reins and sceptre. (Crawford 320/1; Sydenham 593). About Extremely Fine. 3.65g. SPECIFICATION Date 103 BC. References Crawford 320/1; Sydenham 593. Weight 3.65g.
  10. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ahala_rome/29441793223 Andrew McCabe 320/1 Julia Denarius. L.IVLI L.F. CAESAR Roma, Venus in biga drawn by Cupids. AM#09212-39, 3g91 Denarius. 103BC. 3.91grams. Rome mint. Julia. Crawford 320/01 L.IVLI L.F. CAESAR. Obverse: hd Mars l, CAESAR. Reverse: Venus Gentrix + biga Cupids l, lyre. Common.
I would like to conclude by noting that, as far as a remote assessment allows, the coin shown here presents general characteristics and style not dissimilar to those of the authentic dies found on the web. In the absence of the physical characteristics, a comparative examination with authentic coins of the period will not be possible. In its present state of preservation, if authentic, the coin could, in my opinion, be worth c. 50€.

Best regards.
Giulio De Florio

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Notes:
(1) Numismatica classica gives the denarius under consideration a weight of 3,43÷4,12g e un diametro di 16÷19mm. and a diameter of 16÷19mm. and a diameter of 16÷19mm. I collect in a table the physical characteristics of coins of the figure type found on the web:
References Weight(g) Diameter(mm) Die axis (H)
Link1 2,44 15 -
Link2 4,02 18 -
Link3 3,77 14 1
Link4 3,94 - -
Link5 3,81 17 4
Link6 3,9 16,5 -
Link7 3,87 16 -
Link8 3,92 17 -
Link9 3,65 - -
Link10 3,91 - -
Without the physical characteristics of the sample under examination, it will not be possible to carry out a comparative examination with authentic coins found on the web.
(2) c. 94 B.C., according to Sydenham.
(3) The controlmarks are the letters of the Latin alphabet up to S, normally arranged or inverted, alone or accompanied by one or two dots; the control mark on the reverse is invariably the same as on the obverse, except that the dots are sometimes lost in the rest of the character. No pair of control marks has more than one pair of matrices.
(4) The type on the reverse alludes to the descent of the Iulii from Venus via Aeneas and Ascanius-Iulus.
(5) The lyre is explained by the Iulii's ties with Apollo
(6) L·IVLI·L·F (Lucius IVLIus Luci Filius) L. Julius Caesar, a member of the gens Iulia, thus a relative of Caesar the Dictator, was one of the first family members to attain the consulship. Governor of Macedonia in 94 B.C., and consul in 90 during the Social War, he approved the basic law offering Roman citizenship to Italian allies; censor together with P. Licinius Crassus, grandfather of the triumvir, he helped enlist the first of them. An opponent of Marius, he was killed on Marius' return to Rome in 87 B.C. He was also the grandfather of Mark Antony.
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