[Home, My eBay, Site Map] [eBay logo] [to Browse, Sell, Services, Search, Help, and Community] [Browse Sub-Navigation] EXTREMELY RARE REPUBLICAN GOLD, EF Item #176219468 Coins & Stamps:Coins:Non-US:Ancient, Medieval [Image] Bidding is closed for this item. [Image] [Show description] First Starts at $8,350.00 $8,350.00 bid [Leave feedback] Quantity 1 # of 0 (bid history) (with (to seller) bids emails) Time left Auction has Location Massachusetts ended. [envelope] (mail this auction Started 10/05/99, 10:39:10 PDT to a friend) [Gift Alert] (request a gift Ends 10/12/99, 10:39:10 PDT alert) Featured Category Auction [Image] Seller henri_delger@prodigy.net (434) [star] [about me] (view comments in seller's Feedback Profile) (view seller's other auctions) (ask seller a question) [Image] High bid -- [Image] Payment Visa/MasterCard, Money Order/Cashiers Checks, See item description for payment methods accepted Shipping Seller pays for shipping, Seller ships internationally, See item description for shipping charges [Image] Relist Seller: Didn't sell your item the first time? item eBay will refund your relisting fee if it sells the second time around. Relist this item. Seller assumes all responsibility for listing this item. You should contact the seller to resolve any questions before bidding. Currency is U.S. dollar ($) unless otherwise noted. Description Classical Cash and Henri Delger's Old Roman Coins for Special Collectors present: [Look at THIS!] [Look at THIS!] EXTREMELY RARE REPUBLICAN GOLD, EF L. Cestianus & C. Norbanus, AV aureus, struck 43 BC, (8.0g) Draped bust of Africa right, wearing an elaborate elephant headdress. / L CESTIVS C NORBA Curile chair with Corinthian helmet on top, S C PR at sides. Crawford491/1a, Sydenham1153. EF. The attribution of the two types of Roman Republican gold struck in 43 BC is in dispute among scholars. Crawford suggests that L. Cestianus and C. Norbanus were the henchmen of Octavian at the beginning of the second Civil War who issued these aureii to pay Octavian's newly acquired Italian and African legions. Crawford also suggest that Norbanus may be the same moneyer who issued denarii in 83 BC, and who would become consul in 38 BC. Antony, consul at the time of this issue, had falsified papers from Caesar to obtain power. Cicero garnered opposition for Antony in the Senate with a series of brilliant speeches, the Philippics. With Cicero's support, 20 year-old Octavian, heir and adoptive heir to Julius Caesar, emerged as a rival to Antony. By itself, the Senate was probably too impoverished to issue a series of gold coins such as these. Payment for several legions was needed by the heir to Caesar's immense wealth, to fight Marc Antony in the convoluted period after the death of Caesar. The generally good and well-balanced style of the issue reflects deliberate planning for the payment of troops needed by the heir to Caesar's immense wealth. An aureus was a over a month's pay to a legionary and a significant amount to any officer. Antony was defeated at Mutina, in Cisalpine Gaul, and was compelled to withdraw to Transalpine Gaul. There, in November, following the Senate's awkward request to Octavian that he turn over his armies to D. Brutus, one of Caesar's assassins, Antony was reconciled with his former enemy. Together with Lepidus, the heir to Caesar's role as Pontifex Maximus, they formed the rocky alliance known as the second triumvirate, turning on their mutual political enemies, including the Senate and the assassins of Julius Caesar who had fled east. The obverse features Africa, wearing her characteristic elephant headdress. The reverse has a curule chair topped with a helmet. This may be a symbol of the role of the specific African legion (there were two) in the current political situation. Questions and Norbanus issued another series of aureii which feature Italia (?) on the obverse. Another variety of this Africa issue has two snakes, instead of a helmet. The legend SC shows the issuing authority of the Senate, which had allied itself with Octavian, against Antony. Grueber suggests that the coins were issued with neutral and more cautious family-oriented themes which characterized the silver coinage of the earlier Republic.. The family of Cestianus may simply have been of African origin. The exact purpose of these rare gold coins may never be conclusively resolved. PLEASE CLICK HERE to see ALL the wonderful items in this week's sale! CLICK HERE to go to OldRomanCoins.com for coins, antiquities, and books! HENRI'S SUPER SERVICE: On this item, MASTER CARD, VISA, BANK-ISSUED CASHIER'S CHECKS, CERTIFIED CHECKS, OR BANK/POSTAL MONEY ORDERS ONLY, PLEASE! Upon receipt of your payment, I will IMMEDIATELY ship this item anywhere in the world, with NO SHIPPING CHARGES! Sorry, but on this item, Personal checks and cash CANNOT be accepted. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Image] Bidding Bidding is closed for this item. --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcements | Register | eBay Store | SafeHarbor | Feedback Forum | About eBay Copyright © 1995-1999 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. [TrustE] Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the eBay User Agreement