Roman Republic: L. Cestius and C. Norbanus (43 BC). AV aureus (20mm, 8.08 gm, 8h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 4/5....
Description
Senatorial Soldier Issue
L. Cestius and C. Norbanus (43 BC). AV aureus (20mm, 8.08 gm,
8h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 4/5. Rome, ca. January-April 43 BC.
Draped bust of Africa right, seen from front, wearing elephant skin
headdress over helmet; large dotted border / L•CESTIVS / C•NORBA,
Corinthian helmet right on curule chair, legs decorated with eagles
flying right; S•C-P R across fields, dotted border. Calicó 3.
Crawford 491/1a. Sydenham 1153. Cestia 1 and Norbana 3. Brilliant,
sunny devices with nearly complete borders.From the Mirabilis Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 115 (16 September 2020), lot 590; Tkalec, (26 October 2007), lot 131.
This intriguing gold aureus belongs to the 12 months immediately following the assassination of Julius Caesar, which produced a chaotic situation in Rome when the Senate briefly regained its preeminence and a host of unlikely alliances were formed and broken up. Octavian, Caesar's young heir, allied himself with Cicero and the Senate against Marc Antony, who, following the end of his Consulship on 1 January 43 BC, took an army north to attack Decimus Albinus Brutus, one of the assassins, who had been appointed by the Senate as governor of Cisalpine Gaul. The new Consuls Hirtius and Pansa, in turn, raised a Senatorial army and set off to attack Antony, ostensibly with Octavian's support. Lucius Cestius and Gaius Norbanus, both Caesarians and supporters of Octavian, were elected Praetors for 43 BC and ordered the striking of this issue of gold aurei to pay the Senatorial soldiers. Two of the new legions were raised in Africa, reflected by the personification on the obverse of this piece. The curule chair on the reverse reflects the authority of the Consuls and Praetors. The alliance between Octavian and Senate would prove to be short-lived, and the latter's renewed authority was swept away when Octavian, Antony, and Lepidus formed the Second Triumvirate.
Estimate: $25,000 - $35,000.
View all of [The Mirabilis Collection ]
Auction Info
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
22% of the successful bid (minimum $29) per lot.
This lot is in: 5 -
Signature® Floor Session - Platinum Session (Live Floor, Live Phone, Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live):
(Lots 34001-34318) - 6:00 PM Central Time, Monday, January 12, 2026 (7:00 PM Eastern Time).
[Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session.]
Exhibition Viewing Times, Title Page, Floor Session and License Information
Additional Location Info:
InterContinental New York Barclay
111 East 48th Street
New York, NY 10017
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms | Ancient Coins Grading Tutorial
World and Ancient Coin Bibliography
** Lots bearing estimates and without Consignor Reserve shall open at Heritage Auctions' discretion (usually 25% to 60% of the low estimate).