Roman Republican & Imperatorial Julius Caesar, 49-44 BC. Denarius (3,35 g., 17,95 mm. ), with L. Aemilius Buca, moneyer, Rome, February-March 44 BC. CAESAR DICT•PERPETVO Laureate and veiled head of Julius Caesar to right L BVCA Venus standing front, head lowered to left, holding Victory in her right hand and long scepter adorned with star in her left. Babelon (Julia) 35 and (Aemilia) 14. Crawford 480/8. RBW 1683. Sydenham 1061. Banker's mark (crescent) For two centuries, Rome had disdained the Hellenistic practice of placing the ruler's portrait on the coins of the realm, just as it rejected the concept of kingship altogether. In early 44 BC, many Romans must have been stunned to see the image of Julius Caesar on the silver denarii in circulation. Like a profusion of other honours and titles, the right to place his image on coins had been granted to Caesar by the Roman Senate. Caesar's enemies may have had an ulterior motive in approving the honour, as it would almost certainly fuel the growing suspicion that Caesar intended to make himself king of Rome. If this was the intention, it succeeded, for within three months a conspiracy had formed and Caesar was duly assassinated at a meeting of the Senate on 15 March 44 BC. This rare silver denarius by L. Buca bears a realistic portrait of Caesar on the obverse and the image of the dictator's patron goddess Venus on the reverse. The obverse legend hails Caesar as "DICT(ator) PERPETVO", or "Dictator for Life", a title approved by the Senate in February 44 BC. Good Very Fine Lovely silvered colour Please see the photos for a better impression