Julius Caesar, 49-44 BC. Aureus (Gold, 19 mm, 8.08 g, 1 h), with A. Hirtius, praetor, Rome, early 46. C•CAESAR COS•TER Veiled female head (of Vesta or Pietas?) to right.
Rev. A HIRTIVS PR Emblems of the augurate and pontificate: lituus, guttus, and securis. Babelon (Hirtia) 1 and (Julia) 22. Calicó 36. Crawford 466/1. RBW 1634-1636. Sydenham 1017-1018. A splendid coin struck from a very early die pair of exceptionally fine style. Very light marks
, otherwise, good extremely fine.
From an old Swiss collection, formed in the early to mid 20th century, ex Münzen & Medaillen XV, 1-2 July 1955, 701 ('Monnaies romaines en or d'une collection portugaise').
Aulus Hirtius was a friend of Julius Caesar, with whom he fought in Gaul, and the consul of the year 43, in the course of which he died from his wounds while besieging Mark Antony in Mutina. Hirtius was an avid writer on military subjects: he added an eighth book to the dictator's
De Bello Gallico and is believed to have been the author of Caesar's
De Bello Alexandrino. It has also been speculated that Hirtius was the editor, though not the author, of
De Bello Africano and
De Bello Hispaniensi. The present aureus, issued in 46 BC when Aulus was praetor, was struck from a very early die pair as the style is far superior to the mostly rather crude later issues.
