The 1963 film "Cleopatra" features the Egyptian queen wearing a large necklace made of Roman gold coins. The film stars Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra and, as her lovers, Richard Burton as Mark Antony and Rex Harrison as Julius Caesar. In a scene where Cleopatra invites Mark Antony for dinner, she wears a necklace made of Roman aureus gold coins bearing the portrait of Julius Caesar, her deceased previous lover.

The film opens with a prologue and then Julius Caesar appears.

It is BC 48 and Caesar's army has defeated General Pompey's army at Pharsalus in Greece.
Pompey has fled to Egypt and Caesar arrives in Alexandria, the capital of Egypt.

Egypt has two rulers, Ptolemy XIII and his older sister Cleopatra.
Both want the throne for themselves and Ptolemy has seized power leaving Cleopatra out in the desert.

Caesar hasn't ordered any carpets.

Cleopatra arrives.

She wants Caesar to back her as the sole ruler of Egypt and sets about winning him. At one time Caesar decides to visit the baths.

Caesar, being polite, leaves but the two meet up later.

Cleopatra finally gets Caesar's backing and a man is sent to eliminate her brother Ptolemy XIII.
Caesar stays for some time and Cleopatra presents him with a son, Caesarion.
She is later invited to make an official visit to Rome.

The men are Mark Antony, Caesar, and Octavian
Cleopatra stages a massive ceremonial entrance with dancing girls and a large Sphinx.

The parade moves slowly while Caesar waits.

The Sphinx is carrying an ornately dressed Cleopatra.

Men carry Cleopatra to meet Caesar.
Cleopatra bows to Caesar and then ...

She lodges in the palace and Caesar visits her and her son whom he has adopted officially. The Roman Senate has declared Caesar as dictator of Rome and some men object to having a king. Four men form a conspiracy to assassinate Caesar.

Caesar invites a Roman general, Mark Antony, to meet Cleopatra.

On March 15, BC 44, the conspirators assassinate Caesar near the Roman Senate.
Mark Antony and Caesar's adopted son and heir Octavian (Gaius Octavius) are sent with armies to locate and destroy the assassins. Octavian becomes the actual emperor of Rome while Mark Antony moves to Alexandria Egypt.

Cleopatra puts on a show for the visiting Mark Antony and then appears.

She is wearing a neckace made of Roman gold coins of Julius Caesar.

The pair become lovers and come up with a scheme to take over the Roman Empire.

The actual Roman gold coin that these prop coins are modeled on is not clear enough to identify. The main Roman gold coin used at the time was the aureus whose size was around 20 mm and weight was around 7.5 grams. It would have had a picture of Caesar on one side and a Roman god or event on the other. It was about the same size and weight as a United States $5 gold coin.

Cleopatra and Antony are in command of the Egyptian forces while Octavian commands the Roman forces.

A sea battle occurs and when the Romans appear to be winning Cleopatra flees on her ship and Antony joins her. Octavian's army reaches Alexandria virtually unopposed and Antony is killed.
Octavian tells Cleopatra he is going to take her to Rome and put her on display. She has another solution.

Cleopatra places her hand in the basket. Later the Romans enter the room and find Cleopatra and her servants dead. A large snake slithers away.

One wonders what kind of snake was used for this scene.

Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra
Richard Burton as Mark Antony
Rex Harrison as Julius Caesar
Roddy McDowall as Octavian
Richard O'Sullivan as Ptolemy XIII
Gregoire Aslan as Pothinus the Eunuch
Directors: Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Rouben Mamoulian
Writers: Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Ranald MacDougall