"One of the coin collector's most coveted treasures is an Ancient Roman denarius minted around 45 BCE, featuring a laurel-wreathed profile of the statesman Julius Caesar. The four-gram coin contains more than 90% silver, but precious metals aren't what make the denarii valuable. Nor is it the rarity of mint condition examples that drives the value of the coin to upwards of $1,000. Rather, it's the historical significance: The denarius is the first coin that commemorated a living Roman leader, minted as the republic slid into empire."
"Before Caesar crossed the Rubicon, he emblazoned his visage on the very money that Romans carried in their purses, a potent reminder in what was ostensibly still a republic of where all power originated and terminated. Classicist Mary Beard explains how Caesar was a tyrant in love with his own image, writing in Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World (2023) that "he set about flooding the city and wider world with portraits, in numbers never seen before: hundreds, if not thousands were planned.""
"Last month, it was reported that Donald Trump's Department of the Treasury will mint a one-dollar coin in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, featuring a profile of the 47th president, every swirl in his combover visible on the metal frieze. Brandon Beach, the United States Treasurer, tweeted, "No fake news here ... Looking forward to sharing more soon, once the obstructionist shutdown of the United States government is over.""
An Ancient Roman denarius from around 45 BCE bears Julius Caesar's laurel-wreathed profile and is prized for historical significance rather than silver content. The denarius is notable as the first coin to commemorate a living Roman leader, produced as the republic transitioned toward empire. Caesar placed his image on everyday money to signal where political power originated and terminated, and he dispersed portraits widely across the city and provinces. In a modern parallel, the U.S. Treasury announced a one-dollar coin featuring Donald Trump's profile for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, accompanied by public statements from the U.S. Treasurer and congressional proposals for additional portraits.
Read at Hyperallergic
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