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Rare Octavian Silver Denarius, struck in Greece, 42 BC

1182

Octavian. Silver Denarius (3.88 g), 42 BC. Military mint traveling with Octavian in Greece. CAESAR III

VIR R P C, helmeted and draped bust of young Mars right, spear at shoulder. Rev. S C, legionary eagle

between two standards; above, trophy with oval shields. (Crawford 497/3; HCRI 138; Sydenham 1320; RSC

248). Well struck and centered on a broad flan with a beautiful old cabinet tone. In an exceptional state of

preservation for this issue. Extremely fine.

$ 5,000

ex UBS 78 (9 September 2008), lot 1144.

This coin was struck on the eve of one of the most famous battles of the dying Roman Republic: the Battle of Philippi, which saw the

triumviral heirs of Julius Caesar (Octavian and Mark Antony) exact justice upon Caesar’s assassins, M. Junius Brutus and C. Cassius

Longinus. The depiction of Mars on the obverse is almost certainly intended to represent Mars Ultor (“the Avenger”) invoked here

as a sign of the desired revenge on Caesar’s killer and who was honored by Octavian in the aftermath of Philippi. The legends and

reverse type also clearly identify the coin as belonging to the Caesarean faction. Octavian, the adopted son of Caesar, is identified

only by the cognomen of his adoptive father while the distinctive Gallic trophy above the legionary eagle on the reverse is connected

to the victories in the Gallic Wars that had made Julius Caesar so famous and powerful in life. These associations and the ability of

the triumvirs to wield them made them powerful after his death.

ROMAN EMPIRE

Very Handsome Gold Aureus of Augustus

1183

Augustus. Gold Aureus (7.75 g), 27 BC-AD 14. Lugdunum, 2 BC-AD 4. CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F

PATER PATRIAE, laureate head of Augustus right. Rev. AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT, C

L CAESARES in exergue, Caius and Lucius Caesars standing facing, supporting between them two shields

and two spears; above, simpulum and lituus. (RIC 206; Lyon 81; BN 1648-50; BMC 513-8; Calicó 176a).

Broad flan with full legends. Some chasing. Choice very fine.

$ 9,500