Historische Museum Basel

As dictator, Caesar stripped the Roman Senate of most of its powers. In addition to the state’s official coinage, special coins were minted in his honour, among them this gold coin minted by the urban prefect Lucius Munatius Plancus during Caesar’s third term as dictator. The reverse bears Plancus’ name and office along with a picture of a jug used for libations to the gods. The jug symbolizes pietas, the virtue of devoutness, belief in the old Roman gods and adherence to traditional Roman sacrificial practices. After his term as urban prefect, Plancus became governor of Gaul, a province of great importance to Caesar. He founded Lugdunum (Lyon) there in 44 B.C. and another colony in the territory of the Raurici, which is thought to have been Basel or Augst.