Julius Caesar (46-45 BC) Roman bronze dupondius coin Victory & Minerva Sear 62

Description

Roman Imperatorial
Julius Caesar (46-45 BC) with C. Clovius as
prefect
Denomination
:    bronze AE dupondius
Weight:
13.00 grams
Diameter
:    28 mm
Die Axis
:    12 h
Struck
:    Late 46 - Early 45 BC
Mint
:    Rome mint
Obverse
:    CAESAR DIC TER, winged and draped bust of Victory right, wearing necklace
Reverse
:    PRAEF C CLOVI, Minerva advancing left, holding trophy over right shoulder, holding in left hand spear and shield decorated with Medusa, snake at her feet to left
References
:    History and Coinage of the Roman Imperators (Sear) 62; Roman Republican Coinage (Crawford) 476/1a;
RBW Collection of Roman Republican Coins (RBW) 1667
Grade / Comments
:    near Very Fine, light green patina, rough surfaces
Coins are guaranteed genuine for life.
Additionally, returns may be made within 30 days of receipt for any reason as long as items are undamaged and unaltered.
From Sear's
Imperators
reference...
"This issue would seem to be closely associated with the gold aurei and quinarii of L. Plancus and there appears to be no compelling reason to regard it as anything other than a complementary coinage produced in Rome for distribution at Caesar's Spanish triumph.  The issue of aes at this time was a great novelty as regular production had ceased four decades before and was not destined to be resumed until the Augustan reform of c. 19-18 BC.  The idea probably originated with the Pompeian coinage of asses issued in Spain prior to the battle of Munda.  These, however, were of the traditional type for this denomination (Janus head/prow) and conformed to the old weight standard of about 22 grams.  Caesar's coinage, however, was of totally novel design and was struck in orichalcum (brass), the first time this metal had been used for currency in the West.  This makes the denomination difficult to determine, but an approximate weight standard of 15 grams would seem to indicate a dupondius.  The bust of Victory and the warlike figure of Minerva convey a clear message that this was a special coinage issued for the celebration of a military success.  Not a great deal is known of C. Clovius (or Cluvius), the prefect entrusted with the production of this most unusual coinage.  We are not even sure of the precise nature of his prefectship, though it is tempting to assume that he was another of the six
praefecti Urbi
appointed by Caesar before he set out for Spain.  In 44 BC we find him as governor of Cisalpine Gaul and there appears to be later references to him in the age of Augustus."