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Julius Caesar (49-44 BC), Denarius, North Africa, 47-46 BC, diademed head of Venus right, rev. Aeneas walking left, carrying his father on his shoulder and palladium, caesar, 3.78g (Craw 458/1; Sear 1402). Extremely fine (£150-200)

A military issue struck by Caesar to finance his campaign against the Pompeians in Africa. The obverse and reverse underline Caesar’s devotion to Venus and the claim of the gens Julia to be descended from her through Aeneas. Sear makes the interesting observation that the type was ‘doubly appropriate for the African campaign because of the relationship between Aeneas and Dido, princess of Tyre, who was the foundress of the Phoenician colony of Carthage’