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

Dramatic and beautiful work of classical numismatic art. Struck by Caesar's loyal praetor Aulus Hirtius, the obverse of this issue 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 accredited as the mint master of this coin. The reverse says A HIRTIVS P R, with lituus, capis and securis, turned left. These are artifacts 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.