Magnificent Fine Style Octavian Denarius
516
Octavian, Silver Denarius, 3.73g, 32-31 BC. Uncertain Italian mint (Rome?). Bare head of Octavian facing
right. Rev.
CAESAR DIVI F
, Pax standing facing, head left, holding olive-branch and cornucopiae (RIC 252;
HCRI 399; BMC 605-8; RSC 69). A magnificent portrait of fine style and fully struck on a full flan, lustrous
and lightly toned, superb extremely fine.
An exceptional example of this very rare issue.
$ 20,000
ex Alberto Campana Collection, NAC Aucion 64, 17-18 May 2012, lot 994
Exceptional Quality Augustus Denarius of Superb Style
517
Augustus (27 BC - AD 14), Silver Denarius, 3.72g. Mint of Caesaraugusta(?), c.19/8 BC. Head of Augustus
facing right, wreathed with oak-leaves. Rev.
CAESAR AVGVSTVS
, two laurel branches (RIC 33a; BMC 352;
RSC 47). Lovely old cabinet tone with hints of iridescense, a fantastic portrait of superb style struck on an
exceptionally large flan, superb extremely fine.
$ 30,000
ex Rauch Auction 82, 23 April 2008, lot 203
ex Alberto Campana Collection, NAC Auction 64, 17-18 May 2012, lot 1033
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 saving
of a Roman life. In the case of 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.
