Owner Comments:
Rome, struck by Aulus Hirtius, 46 BC. C • CAESAR-COS • TER, veiled female head (Vesta or Pietas?) right, (with features of Julius Caesar?) / A HIRTIVS P R (The "S" is barely evident; just a slanted line against an almost as compressed "P") lituus, capis and securis, all turned left (emblems of Caesar's augurate and pontificate. Caesar was the Pontifex Maximus since an early age, making him literally the Pope of Roman religion). Crawford 466/1. Sydenham 1017-1018. Hirtia 1 and Julia 22. Calicó 37c.
Aulus Hirtius was a key supporter of Caesar. He was an experienced soldier and served as one of Caesar's legates in Gaul from about 54 BC and was an envoy to Pompey in 50 BC. He served Caesar loyally during the Civil War against Pompey and his successors 48-45 BC and was appointed as Caesar's mintmaster in Rome in 46 BC, when he struck the first truly large issue of gold aurei from the spoils of Caesar's campaigns. These aurei, which bear a rather enigmatic veiled female head on the obverse, were used to pay Caesar's soldiers after the great triumphal parade. After Caesar's assassination, Hirtius initially supported Mark Antony but, after taking over as Consul in 43 BC, he raised an army against Antony at the instigation of Cicero and Octavian. His army defeated Antony at Mutina in April of 43 BC, but Hirtius was killed in the fighting; his consular colleague Pansa died days later, leaving Octavian and Antony masters of Rome. Modern historians owe Hirtius a debt of gratitude for preserving and editing Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic and Civil Wars.
NGC reports 204 Caesar Aureii graded, but, these include not just this type with Hirtius, but also other types including the slightly later issue under L. Munatius Plancus.