Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 138 18-19 May 2023
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L. Cestius and C. Norbanus.
Aureus circa 43 BC, AV 8.04 g. Draped bust of Africa r., wearing elephant-skin headdress. Rev. L·CESTIVS / S C - PR Curule chair with legs decorated with eagles, on top, Corinthian helmet; in exergue, C·NORBA. Babelon Cestia and Norbana 3. Sydenham 1153. Bahrfeldt 24. Crawford 491/1a. Calicó 3.
Scarce. A few light marks, otherwise about extremely fine / extremely fine
Ex Triton II, 1998, 728 and NAC 24, 2002, 3 sales.
The circumstances under which this aureus, and its companion issue, were struck are not confidently known, but it's almost certain to be an emergency issue of the senate. It was struck in the name of the praetors Lucius Cestius and Gaius Norbanus, presumably in the early part of 43 B.C., when the senate became allied with Octavian against Marc Antony, who had been declared a public enemy by the senate in February of this year following his 'war' against Decimus Brutus. The former right-hand-man of Julius Caesar, Antony now realised just how formidable an enemy he had in young Octavian. As perilous as the situation could have become (the production of these aurei indicates the senate was formulating plans for war), Antony and Octavian resolved their differences through negotiation. On November 11, 43 the Second Triumvirate was formed, which determined that Antony, Octavian and Lepidus would work together rather than engage in a costly civil war.
Aureus circa 43 BC, AV 8.04 g. Draped bust of Africa r., wearing elephant-skin headdress. Rev. L·CESTIVS / S C - PR Curule chair with legs decorated with eagles, on top, Corinthian helmet; in exergue, C·NORBA. Babelon Cestia and Norbana 3. Sydenham 1153. Bahrfeldt 24. Crawford 491/1a. Calicó 3.
Scarce. A few light marks, otherwise about extremely fine / extremely fine
Ex Triton II, 1998, 728 and NAC 24, 2002, 3 sales.
The circumstances under which this aureus, and its companion issue, were struck are not confidently known, but it's almost certain to be an emergency issue of the senate. It was struck in the name of the praetors Lucius Cestius and Gaius Norbanus, presumably in the early part of 43 B.C., when the senate became allied with Octavian against Marc Antony, who had been declared a public enemy by the senate in February of this year following his 'war' against Decimus Brutus. The former right-hand-man of Julius Caesar, Antony now realised just how formidable an enemy he had in young Octavian. As perilous as the situation could have become (the production of these aurei indicates the senate was formulating plans for war), Antony and Octavian resolved their differences through negotiation. On November 11, 43 the Second Triumvirate was formed, which determined that Antony, Octavian and Lepidus would work together rather than engage in a costly civil war.