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85
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Enlargement
1959 Octavian. Silver Denarius (3.66 g), 30-29 BC
.
Uncertain Italian mint (Rome?).
Laureate head of Octavian, as Apollo, right.
Reverse:
IMP
CAESAR across field, statue of Octavian, holding spear and parazonium, atop rostral column ornamented with two anchors and six beaks of gal-
leys. RIC 271; HCRI 423; BMC 633; RSC 124.
Very scarce
. Charming style and lovely multi-color toning.
Choice Very Fine
.
Sear notes that the combination of the head of Octavian as Apollo with the reverse type of the rostral column, two of which the Senate had voted
for Octavian, suggests that it was the latter of the two represented on this coin: that is, the Actian column in honor of his victory over Mark Antony
and Cleopatra at Actium as opposed to the column decreed in his honor for his victory of Sextus Pompey in 36 BC.
Estimated Value .......................................................................................................................................................................... $800 - 900
Tom Peterson collection; Private purchase from Tom Cederline
.
R
OMAN
I
MPERIAL
C
OINAGE
E
XCEPTIONAL
Q
UALITY
A
UGUSTUS
D
ENARIUS OF
E
LEGANT
S
TYLE
Enlargement
1960
Augustus. Silver Denarius (3.72 g), 27 BC-AD 14.
. Caesaraugusta (?), 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 exceptionally 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 deco-
rate 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 por-
traying 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 ................................................................................................................................................................... $30,000-UP
Ex Alberto Campana Collection (NAC 64, 17-18 May 2012), 1033; Rauch 82 (23 April 2008), 203 Ex Exceptional Roman Denarii Coll. #3104
.