Roman Imperatorial period Orichalcum dupondius?(17.0g, 28mm). Julius Caesar, dictator, Autumn 45 BC, Rome. Draped bust of victory right, wearing necklace. Wing visible behind shoulder. Before, CAESAR DICT TER/Minerva walking left with trophy over right shoulder and, spears in left hand and shield decorated with Medusa. Snake at feet. C CLOVI PRAEF around. Crawford 476/1a; Sear HCRI 62; RPC 601; Sydenham 1025; BMCRR 4125.
This coin has a strange place in the Roman monetary system as an orichalcum dupondius, unlike anything minted before. This coin was likely minted to be handed out during Caesar's triumph after Munda. Unlike his previous triumphs which were ostensibly celebrating victories over foreign enemies such as Juba(who were allied with Roman armies), this triumph was explicitly celebrating a victory over other Romans, by a dictator who had recently been granted a 10 year term. If this was not the moment that started the plot against Caesar, it very likely gave the conspirators a lot of ammunition for casting him as a dangerous threat to the Republic.
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