94
3104
Augustus. Silver Denarius (3.72 g), 27 BC-AD 14.
Caesaraugus-
ta (?), ca. 19/8 BC. Head of Augustus right, wreathed with oak-
leaves.
Reverse:
CAESAR AVGVSTVS, two laurel branches. RIC
33a; BMC 352; RSC 47. Lovely old cabinet toning with hints of
iridescense.
A fantastic portrait of great style struck on an exception-
ally large flan
.
Superb Extremely Fine.
When Octavian was awarded the honorary title of Augustus in 27
BC investing him with supreme power, he was also given the right
to decorate his door posts with laurel branches, a sign of martial
victory, and the corona civica, an oak-wreath symbolizing the
savingof aRoman life. In thecaseof Augustus, the laurel branches
signified his victory over Mark Antony and Cleopatra at Actium,
and the corona civica was awarded for saving the life of not
one citizen but of many thousands when he successfully ending
the civil wars. On this coin Augustus is portraying wearing the oak
wreath crown - which occurs only occasionally on Roman coins
- which by law he was required to do at every public gathering.
Estimated Value.................................................... $25,000 - 30,000
Ex Alberto Campana Collection (NAC 64, 17-18 May 2012), 1033;
Rauch 82 (23 April 2008), 203.
