Rare Julius Caesar Portrait in Gold

Sale: CNG 78, Lot: 1619. Estimate $30000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 14 May 2008.  Sold For $31000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Octavian and Divus Julius Caesar. 43 BC. AV Aureus (7.54 g, 5h). Military mint traveling with Octavian in Italy. Bare head of Octavian right / Laureate head of Julius Caesar right. Crawford 490/2; Bahrfeldt 28; Calicó 52; CRI 132; Sydenham 1321. Near VF. Well centered. Rare Julius Caesar portrait in gold, only thirty examples recorded by Bahrfeldt.

In the summer of 43 BC, following the battle of Mutina, Octavian demanded from the Senate one of the consulships recently left vacant by the deaths of Hirtius and Pansa. When the Senate refused, Octavian marched into Rome and organized consular elections. This issue was struck by Octavian after he became consul on 19 August.