Ancient Roman Imperatorial - 46-45 BCE Julius Caesar AR Denarius NGC Choice XF

This issue was struck by Rome's traveling mint to honor Caesar's great victory in the Battle of Munda (17 March 45 BC) in southern Hispania Ulterior. This was the final battle of Caesar's Civil War against the leaders of the Optimates. This victory at Munda, along with the deaths of Titus Labienus and Gnaeus Pompeius, the eldest son of Pompey, gave Caesar a political victory that enabled him to return triumphantly to Rome, where he then governed as an elected Roman dictator. The two armies met upon the plains of Munda in southern Spain. After an unsuccessful attempt to lure the Pompeians down the hill, Caesar ordered a frontal attack with the code word "Venus," the goddess he claimed as his ancestor. The fighting lasted a full eight hours with no clear advantage for either side. This resulted in the generals leaving their command positions and joining their men in the fighting. Caesar later said that he had fought many times to claim victory, however at Munda he had to literally fight for his life.