Ancient Roman Imperatorial - 46 BCE Julius Caesar AV Aureus NGC AU

Ancient Rome - 46 BC Julius Caesar AV Aureus NGC AU $15,300.

      We at AUCM are proud to present to the ancient collector an Aureus from the reign of Julius Caesar, graded AU by NGC. The Aureus is a gold coin from ancient Rome that was originally valued at 25 pure silver denarii. This is an example of Roman Imperial Coinage, which stretches from the Battle of Actium (31 BC) to Late Antiquity (491 AD). This issue was struck by Caesar's loyal praetor, Aulus Hirtius. The obverse presents a female head (perhaps Vesta or Pietas) facing right, with a border of beads, and the legend C CAESAR COS TER (Gaius Caesar, Consul for the Third Time). Hirtius is attributed as the engraver of this coin. The reverse says A HIRTIVS P R, with lituus, capis and securis, turned left. These are emblems of the augurate and pontificate.

      Aulus Hirtius was an important devotee of Julius Caesar who very well may have become his successor, had events turned out differently. A veteran warrior, Hirtius served as a legate of Caesar's in Gaul starting in 54 BC and was envoy to Pompey in 50 BC. Serving loyally during the Civil War against Pompey and his heirs in 48-45 BC, Caesar appointed him mintmaster of Rome, where he produced the first large issue of gold aurei from the plunder of Caesar's campaigns. These aurei, which carry the image of a veiled woman's head on the obverse, were employed to pay Caesar's troops after the grand triumphal parade. At first, Hirtius supported Marc Antony after the assassination of Caesar. However, after becoming Consul in 43 BC, he raised an army to confront Antony at the urging of Cicero and Octavian. His forces defeated Antony at Mutina in April of 43 BC, but Hirtius was killed during the battle. His consular colleague Pansa died a few days later, which left Octavian and Antony in charge of Rome. Modern historians are thankful to Hirtius for preserving and editing Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic and Civil Wars.