Lot 1691

Description

Republic, Julius Caesar, (assassinated 44 B.C.), gold aureus, Rome mint, moneyer A. Hirtius, ( grams), obv. C CAESAR COS TER, veiled female head to right, dotted border, rev. A.HIRTIVS P R, lituus, jug and axe, dotted border, (S.349, Cr. 466/1, Syd. 1017). Good very fine and scarce.

The occasion of this unusually large issue of aurei was the celebration in 46 B.C. of Caesar's quadruple triumph, which was accompanied by largesses of corn, public banquets, various entertainments, and massive distributions of money to the people and the soldiers. Caesar presented each of his veteran infantrymen with a gratuity of 240 aurei, and the people of Rome he gave the three aurei a man that he had formerly promised them and the one additional piece to each as interest for the delay in payment.