Fake I Buy Power Holo above the Empress's head.
A reference to an ancient silver coin from Alexander the Great.
The coin depicts Hercules wearing the skin of the Nemean lion as armor after defeating it in battle.
Just received my new coin and I couldn’t be happier.
Julius Caesar, Crawford 480/7b
This coin was minted between February and March of 44 BC, only weeks before the Ides of March.
The obverse legend reads DICT PERPETUO CAESAR, meaning “Caesar, dictator for life.” The reverse depicts Venus seated to the right, holding Victory and a transverse scepter.
This issue is of particular numismatic importance because it represents one of the earliest instances in Roman history where a living individual placed his own portrait on a coin. This was a significant departure from Republican tradition, which typically favored depictions of deities, ancestors, or symbolic imagery.
By presenting himself as dictator for life, Caesar was asserting his authority in an unprecedented way and signaling a broader shift toward centralized personal power. Many historians consider actions like this to have contributed to rising tensions among the Roman elite, ultimately leading to the conspiracy that resulted in his assassination.
The depiction of Venus on the reverse further supports Caesar’s claim of divine ancestry, as the Julian family traced its lineage back to the goddess. This imagery was likely intended to legitimize his position and elevate his status beyond that of a traditional statesman.
Holding this coin feels like holding a direct connection to a pivotal moment in history, just before the end of the Roman Republic.
Using Coin Cabinet’s provenance search, I was also able to identify a provenance not listed in the auction catalog: Künker Auction 30, 1995. (That's older than I am)