Julius Caesar, 49-44 BC. Aureus (Gold, 21 mm, 8.00 g, 11 h), with L. Munatius Plancus, praefectus Urbi, Rome, autumn 45 BC. C•CAES - DIC•TER Winged and draped bust of Victory to right. Rev. L•PLANC - PRAEF•VRB Single-handled sacrificial jug. Babelon (Julia) 19 and (Munatia) 2. Calicó 45. Crawford 475/1a. CRI 60. RBW 1663. Sydenham 1019a. Very well centered on a broad flan. Light scratches and with some minor edge marks, otherwise, very fine.


This aureus was struck to celebrate Caesar's victory over the Pompeians led by Labienus and Gnaeus Pompey at Munda in 46 BC. It was a hard-fought battle which saw thousands of casualties, including Labienus himself. Indeed, according to Appian (Bell. Civ. 2.15.104), Caesar would say that 'he had often fought for victory, but that he now had fought for his life as well'. In rather poor taste, Caesar celebrated a triumph in Rome the next year for a victory over his fellow countrymen, the first Roman to do so. The urban prefect mentioned on the reverse of our coin, L. Munatius Plancus, was already noted in Antiquity for his flexible political compass, and he skilfully weathered the various civil wars and conflicts of his time. Though a controversial figure, his legacy also includes the founding of both Lugdunum, modern-day Lyon, in France, and Augusta Raurica (Augst) in Switzerland.