2016-03-31 Thu

Heritage’s Feb. 11 Weekly World and Ancient Coin Auction sold a UNC silver denarius struck on orders from Julius Caesar by a mobile military mint in North Africa c. 46-47 B.C.E, for $1,057.50. The coin’s obverse features the diademed head of Venus. The reverse shows Aeneas holding the Palladium with Anchises on his shoulder.

According to Roman mythology, Venus fell in love with handsome Anchises, Prince of Dardania and transformed into a Phrygian princess to seduce him. The goddess appeared nine months later to present him with his son, Aeneas. Anchises started bragging about this even after being warned by Venus. Venus’s father, Jupiter struck a thunderstorm at him which left him permanently crippled.

Aeneas grew up to be strong and good looking like his father and fought for the Trojans against the Greeks. After losing the battle he carried his crippled father from the flames, along with his son, Ascanius, and the statue of Pallas Athena, the Palladium. They and other Trojan survivors settled in Italy. Caesar’s extended family, the Julians claim to be direct descendants of Aeneas with Venus as their divine ancestor.