Gold for the Victors of Thapsus

166, Lot: 148. Estimate $5000. Sold for $3100. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Julius Caesar. 46 BC. AV Aureus (21mm, 8.11 g). Rome mint. Aulus Hirtius, Praetor. Veiled female head (Vesta?) right / Lituus, jug, and axe. Crawford 466/1; CRI 56; Sydenham 1017; Calicó 37. Good VF, small scuff on obverse, mount marks on edge.

Aulus Hirtius, friend and confidant of Julius Caesar, was praetor in 46 BC, and thus the official in charge of the distribution of the largest issue of Roman gold coins to that date. The aurei were for distribution to the general’s successful troops after their final victory over the Pompeians in Africa at Thapsus. Each legionary received 5000 denarii (200 aurei), centurions twice that. Since Caesar had at least 40000 legionnaires at Thapsus, the amount of coin needed was immense. Hirtius seems to have been able to supply the need. Hirtius later finished the dictator’s memoirs after his assassination and was himself killed at the siege of Mutina in 43 BC.