Roman Empire Coins

(August 9, 2025) A supernova or comet appeared over Rome in 44 BC, coinciding with the festival of Ludi Victoriae Caesaris, the funeral games honoring Julius Caesar. This star reportedly lasted for a week, its luminosity sufficient to be visible at midsummer’s day.  It became known as Sidus Iulium (the Julian Star) or Caesaris Astrum (the Star of Caesar). Not surprisingly, many Romans interpreted the celestial body's appearance as proof of their former dictator-for-life’s divinity.

Among the earliest and most fervent believers was Caesar’s adopted son, Octavian, later known as Augustus. While the concept of a divine political leader was not unprecedented in other cultures (e.g., the Egyptian Pharaohs), Octavian’s promotion of Caesar’s divinity was extraordinary for ancient Rome. The Senate posthumously deified Julius Caesar which officially spawned a new religion that worshipped one of Rome’s own for the first time.

For Octavian, the appearance of Caesar's comet provided a golden opportunity. For years afterwards, Octavian struck coins that advertised his relationship to Caesar and the latter’s status as a god.  

This masterfully designed denarius was struck by Octavian’s travelling mint and circulated in Rome the decade after Caesar’s murder. The front of the coin depicts the bare head of Octavian sporting an impressive beard. At the time in Rome, such a visage was unusual, at least for Octavian’s age (beards were more commonly seen on the elderly, or adolescents prior to their first ceremonial shave). In this case, Octavian grew his beard to indicate he mourned Caesar. Octavian kept up the effort for at least several years, and he probably even ceremoniously shaved and re-grew it for added effect. Whether viewed in person or on his coinage, Octavian’s mourning beard advertised his link to his holy father. 

The text on the front of this coin reads IMP CAESAR DIVI F III VIR ITER RPC, indicting that Octavian was the son of the deified Caesar (as well as one of Rome’s Triumvirs). 

Coin Reference

https://coins.www.collectors-society.com/wcm/CoinView.aspx?sc=342850

(August 9, 2025) 

The coin’s reverse shows a temple of Julius Caesar. Within the impressive tetrastyle structure stands a statue of Caesar beside a lit altar, and DIVO IVL (to the divine Julius) boldly proclaimed on the architrave above. Notably, a large star, i.e., sidus Iulium, appears within the building’s pediment. Completing the coin’s reverse is the inscription COS.IT.ER.ET.TER.D.ESIG which surprisingly is a Druid Akkadian text. Only Druid Akkadian texts have those phrase dot separators.

1. COS = Ka'u  Su = "Prodding Su." Cos in Latin means whetstone which has has nothing to do with the image.
2. IT =ITu = "omen"
3. ER = ERu = harbor
4. ET = ETu = sky's motion powers
5. TER = Tu  ERu = astrology-magic can harbor
6. D = life manifestations
7. ESIG = ESu  IGu = confusing the eyes-of-fate (stars)

• Prodding Su's omens can harbor the sky's-motion-powers (of fate). Astrology-magic can harbor the life-manifestations confusing the eyes-of-fate (stars).

Coin Reference

(August 9, 2025) 

This later coin again has COS on its back side along with a 7 pointed star over a crescent moon. This would seem to represent astrology magic controlling the crescent moon goddess Ayu who controls the connections of the life network which brings life to earth.

The right text on the front of the coin has has "Hadrianus" (Latin for Hadrian) while the right text is not clear. Hadrian spent most of his growing-up years in what is now Spain so he would have been familiar with Druid literacy.

Coin Reference

https://l5.com/Event/LotDetails/177960/Hadrian-AD-117138-Denarius