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In 40 BC the Roman numismatic landscape was diverse and complex. Two moneyers issued coins at Rome, including this aureus with the portrait of Octavian. Additionally, Octavian issued his own coins at mints outside of the capital, as did four others: Sextus Pompey in Sicily, Marc Antony and Quintus Labienus in the East, and Domitius Ahenobarbus in the region of the Adriatic or Ionian Sea. After the Battle of Philippi in October 42 BC, Octavian began the thankless task of settling some 40,000 veterans on their promised lands.
As he acquired land in Italy by force, his popularity suffered, and Marc Antony's wife Fulvia and brother Lucius Antonius preyed upon his misfortune. Their political attacks stirred the veterans of Antony against those of Octavian, culminating in the Perusine War [41-40 BC]. Octavian triumphed in this conflict and afterwards, upon the death of Antony's governor, seized Gaul for himself. Alarmed by these events, Antony sailed west to settle matters with Octavian. Though their meeting was preceded with hostilities and a siege of Brundisium by Antony, the triumvirs were able to settle their differences.
The resulting pact of October 40 BC confirmed Antony's rule in the East and Octavian's control of the West, and theoretically bound the men through the marriage of Antony to Octavian's sister, Octavia. In the midst of these events, this aureus was struck by the moneyer Ti. Sempronius Gracchus. His issues bear on their obverse the portrait of Octavian or the deified Julius Caesar, making it clear where his allegiance lay. Though Gracchus' coin inscriptions indicate he was quaestor designate, nothing else is known of his life. The portrayal of Fortuna alludes to the conclusion of Octavian's civil wars with Brutus and Cassius and with Antony's relatives. The moneyer's other reverse type, which shows a legionary eagle, a military standard, a plow and a surveyor's rod, is a clear allusion to Octavian's resettlement of veterans.
As he acquired land in Italy by force, his popularity suffered, and Marc Antony's wife Fulvia and brother Lucius Antonius preyed upon his misfortune. Their political attacks stirred the veterans of Antony against those of Octavian, culminating in the Perusine War [41-40 BC]. Octavian triumphed in this conflict and afterwards, upon the death of Antony's governor, seized Gaul for himself. Alarmed by these events, Antony sailed west to settle matters with Octavian. Though their meeting was preceded with hostilities and a siege of Brundisium by Antony, the triumvirs were able to settle their differences.
The resulting pact of October 40 BC confirmed Antony's rule in the East and Octavian's control of the West, and theoretically bound the men through the marriage of Antony to Octavian's sister, Octavia. In the midst of these events, this aureus was struck by the moneyer Ti. Sempronius Gracchus. His issues bear on their obverse the portrait of Octavian or the deified Julius Caesar, making it clear where his allegiance lay. Though Gracchus' coin inscriptions indicate he was quaestor designate, nothing else is known of his life. The portrayal of Fortuna alludes to the conclusion of Octavian's civil wars with Brutus and Cassius and with Antony's relatives. The moneyer's other reverse type, which shows a legionary eagle, a military standard, a plow and a surveyor's rod, is a clear allusion to Octavian's resettlement of veterans.