Octavian denarius with Trophy on Galley Prow

I guess if I have found an area of collecting that I really enjoy it's denarii of Octavian/Augustus. For some reason I keep buying them when I find one I like at an affordable price.

This one was minted circa 30-29 B.C. and has the bare head of Octavian facing right on the obverse. On the reverse there is a trophy composed of a helmet, cuiress, shield and crossed spears on the prow of a galley to the right and the inscription IMP CAESAR. It's RIC 1-265a and Coinage of the Roman Imperators 419. It has a weight of 3.6 grams.

 

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Great coin!

 

I'm assuming (and that's dangerous), that reverse on this coin represents the naval victory over MA and Cleo. Nice coin. I like Octavian/Augustus coins as well, but I do not have a couple of these that you have posted here of late.

AUGUSTUS
AR Quinarius
OBVERSE: IMP VII CAESAR - Bare head right
REVERSE: ASIA RECEPTA - Victory standing left on cippus, holding wreath and palm, snake on either side
Uncertain Italian Mint 29-27 BC
1.7g, 13mm
RIC 276, S 1568

 

I don't have any Quinarius yet. They seem to usually be pretty worn. Yours is well preserved and attractive.

According to The History and Coinage of the Roman Imperators this coin represents Naval victories in general by Octavian and Marcus Agrippa but most notably Naulochus in 36 BC and Actium (MA and Cleo)in 31 BC.

 

The image of the ship prow and captured suit of armor has to be alluding to the Battle of Actium only two summers prior.

Augustus was so proud of this battle that he never stopped talking about it...and why should he? That's how he won the Empire to himself.

Have you seen the monument he erected with the captured prow ram heads of Anthony's ships?



This is all that remains today, the marble having been carried off during the middle ages, and the ram heads being melted by medieval scavengers.



This is a bronze ram pulled off of the coast of Italy where the Roman fleet met the Carthraginian fleet in combat at the Battle of Cape Ecnomus during the First Punic War. This ram was found with a preserved piece of wood stuck to it from a Carthraginian ship that was rammed and probably sunk. Even though it's 200+ years before Actium, the design would have been basically the same as used at Actium.

To read more about Rome's first major naval battle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cape_Ecnomus

 

Incredible, this is why I love history and this forum. So much knowledge.

 

Great coin indeed, not one you see often.

 

Very cool and interesting posts!!!

Here's a provincial that is usually quite budget friendly, although it is bronze

Augustus & Rhoemetalkes I, AE 23; "King & Queen Pythodoris"/Bust of Augustus; Thrace, 11BC-12 AD

 

Great capture! I like this coin.

I only have a couple Octavians:


Roman Imperatorial
Octavian 27 BCE-14 CE
AR Denarius - Brundisium or Rome mint
Rome mint 32-31 BCE
Octavian bare Head r
CAESAR DIVI, Mercury lyre
RIC 257


Roman Imperatorial
Octavian
AR Quinarius 29-28 BCE
Asia Recepta Victory Cista Snakes
Sear 1568

 

Absolutely love it! A wonderful addition.

 

The cool thing about our hobby is that the coins are just one facet of the hobby. Behind each coin is a rich and fascinating history about the person or event depicted on the coin, or the coiner, or the time period around which the coin was minted.

Those who choose to ignore that rich history do so at their peril. I think the hobby is far much more interesting when taking that aspect of it into account.

 

Octavian with julius ceasar temple/ offcourse i like them all

 

My "newest" Octavian. It's a common enough coin, but it took me decades to find the right example. The portrait of Antony is first rate, but I especially like the portrait of Octavian. Some of his portraits on this type are merely insipid, but this one brilliantly depicts him as the smirking bloodthirsty twerp he truly was:

 

Great coin @alde

I really like those Augustus denarii with the anepigraphic obverses.

 

Great images and write up. That ram is "wicked" looking. No doubt it could cause some nasty damage.

 

WoW i like it all the details are perfect

 

That's a beautiful coin. Mine is not nearly as nice but I'm happy to have one.

 

"Is that how one says it? As simply as that. "Mark Antony is dead. Lord Antony is dead." "The soup is hot; the soup is cold." "Antony is living; Antony is dead." Shake with terror when such words pass your lips, for fear they be untrue and Antony'd cut out your tongue for the lie! And if true, for your lifetime boast that you were honored to speak his name even in death. The dying of such a man, must be shouted, screamed! It must echo back from the corners of the universe. "Antony is dead! Mark Antony of Rome lives no more!"

~Quote said by Octavian (Roddy McDowell) in Cleopatra (1963)​

 

Octavian properly "attributed"!

 

This is an example I have been unsuccessfully chasing for the last several months. Someone always wants it more than I do

Of course, it's a Tetradrachm struck at Antioch.