Julius Caesar – Rare Inscribed Sling Bullet from the Battle of Munda, 45 BC Roman Republic, 45 BC Weight: 68.7 g Dimensions: 46.2 × 26.2 × 25.0 mm From a Private European Collection. Found on the Battlefield of Munda, Spain. An exceptional and historically important Roman lead sling bullet (glans) from the army of Julius Caesar, used during the decisive Battle of Munda on 17 March 45 BC – Caesar's final major battle of the Great Roman Civil War. The projectile is of massive almond-shaped form and bears the distinctive CAE monogram referring to CAESAR, directly associating it with the Caesarian forces. With its impressive weight of 68.7 g, substantial dimensions of 46.2 mm, clearly visible monogram and highly attractive sandy patina, this is an outstanding example of this fascinating class of Roman military weapon. Caesar's Last Great Battle: On 17 March 45 BC, Julius Caesar faced the last great army standing between him and complete military supremacy over the Roman world. At Munda in Hispania, Caesar confronted the remaining Pompeian forces commanded by Gnaeus Pompeius, eldest son of Pompey the Great, together with Titus Labienus, once one of Caesar's own most trusted commanders. The battle became one of the hardest-fought engagements of Caesar's extraordinary military career. Unlike many of his celebrated victories, Munda was no easy triumph. The fighting was exceptionally fierce and the outcome remained uncertain until the Caesarian forces finally broke the Pompeian resistance. Caesar emerged victorious. Labienus was killed and Gnaeus Pompeius was captured and killed shortly afterwards. The victory at Munda destroyed the last major Pompeian army and marked the triumphant conclusion of Caesar's final military campaign. Less than one year later, on the Ides of March, 44 BC, Julius Caesar was assassinated in Rome. A Weapon Bearing Caesar's Name: Roman lead sling bullets were formidable weapons. Known as glandes because of their characteristic acorn-like shape, these compact and aerodynamic lead projectiles could be launched at considerable velocity by experienced slingers. Particularly fascinating are examples bearing military inscriptions, names or monograms. Such markings transformed an otherwise anonymous projectile into a weapon associated with a specific commander or army. The present example bears the distinctive CAE monogram of CAESAR. More than two thousand years after the battle, this remarkable projectile survives as a tangible military relic from Julius Caesar's last great battlefield victory. Important Auction References: Closely comparable Caesarian sling bullets from the Hispanian campaign have achieved remarkable results at Roma Numismatics, E-Sale 90, 18 November 2021. Lot 1635 – Roman PB Sling Bullet in the name of Julius Caesar, Hispanian campaign, circa 45 BC; 68.97 g, 37 × 19 mm. Sold for £1,000 hammer (+ 20% commission). Lot 1636 – Another example of this historically important Caesarian type. Sold for £1,100 hammer (+20% commission). The exceptional prices achieved by these comparable examples demonstrate the strong collector interest in sling bullets associated with Julius Caesar and his final campaign in Hispania. An Exceptional Historical Relic: Found on the battlefield of Munda in Spain, bearing the CAE monogram of Caesar, unusually large and heavy, exceptionally well preserved and displaying a beautiful sandy patina. Few surviving Roman military objects offer such a direct connection with one of antiquity's most famous commanders and one of the defining moments of the late Roman Republic. - A weapon bearing Caesar's name. - A survivor of his last great battle. - An extraordinary piece of Roman history. Extremely rare and of outstanding historical importance. An Exceptional and Rare Relic of Caesar’s Final Campaign: While Roman lead sling bullets (glandes plumbeae) are known in considerable numbers, inscribed examples connected with Julius Caesar and the final phase of the Roman Civil War form a distinctly rarer and much more historically significant category. The present specimen bears the CAE monogram, referring to CAESAR, and belongs to the celebrated group associated with Caesar’s Spanish campaign against the Pompeian forces, culminating in the Battle of Munda in 45 BC. Such explicitly Caesar-associated sling bullets appear only sporadically on the international antiquities and numismatic market. Their appeal extends far beyond the ordinary collecting of Roman military equipment: they represent a rare class of objects that can be directly associated with one of antiquity’s most famous historical figures and with the dramatic final campaign that secured Caesar’s supremacy in the Roman world. Comparable Caesar-related sling bullets have achieved remarkably strong results when offered at auction, demonstrating the exceptional collector interest surrounding these highly evocative relics of the Caesarian Civil War. A rare opportunity to acquire a tangible military relic bearing the name of Julius Caesar – not merely an object from the Roman world, but an artefact intimately connected with one of the defining moments of Roman history. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This item can only be shipped to countries of the European Union and Switzerland. I prove that the lot was obtained legally , provenance statement seen by Catawiki Important information. I guarantee that I am entitled to ship this lot. I will take care that any necessary permits will be arranged. I will inform the buyer about this if this takes more than a few days.