Octavian Denarius

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by alde, Feb 22, 2017.

  1. alde

    alde Always Learning

    I got this denarius in the mail yesterday. It's a bit porous but has plenty of nice detail. It is cataloged in Sear The History and Coinage of the Roman Imperators as 302a from southern or central Italian mint, late 40-early 39 BC.

    Obv. Bare head of Octavian right, with slight beard, CAESAR IMP around.
    Rev. Caduceus, ANTONINVS IMP clockwise around.
    Octavian Denarius Sear Imperators 302a.jpg
    From The History and Coinage of the Roman Imperators:

    "A remarkable feature of this entire series is the prominence accorded by Octavian to his triumviral colleague. Whereas Antony's coinage in celebration of the Brundisium agreement mentions his younger partner merely in a subsidiary role, Octavian strikes a derarius bearing Antony's portrait alone with his own name relegated to the reverse. Further, the quinarii give Antony's name precedence over that of Octavian. If, as seems likely, the coins were struck in Gaul then Octavian may have been adopting a deliberately conciliatory attitude in a region which had so recently been under the control of Antony's generals. All this should be taken as strong evidence of the dominant position still enjoyed by Antony at this time. That pre-eminence was to endure for several years more, but all the time the politically astute young Caesar was employing all his guile to strengthen his position at the expense of the older man and almost imperceptibly the balance of power began to shift."

    This little tidbits of history so closely connected to the coins is why I love this hobby.
     
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  3. Sallent

    Sallent Live long and prosper

    I am not familiar with coinage of Augustus enough to comment on the style of the coin or the theme, but I will say it looks like a very appealing coin. Just don't ever drop it. Porous coins should be handled with love.
     
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  4. alde

    alde Always Learning

    I will be extra careful with it but it looks pretty solid. Maybe it's more slightly pitted. It looks pretty good under a 5x loupe.
     
  5. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    What is not to like, you have a very nice portrait of Augustus and Antony's name on the reverse. On top of that you have the great historical context. Nice acquisition, congrats.
     
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  6. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Great portrait & cool reverse. Nice grab.
     
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  7. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Nice coin. Is this your image? Is the color correct?
     
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  8. alde

    alde Always Learning

    Thanks Bing, yes it's my image that I did an hour ago and the color is correct or darn close to it. Maybe the coin has less brown/gold tone to it and maybe a bit more grey in hand. I bought it from a very reputable VCoins dealer.
     
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2017
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  9. stevex6

    stevex6 Random Mayhem

    Cool OP-Augustus

    Octavian, Augustus

    Tomato, Tomato

    ... alde => congrats on the sweet OP-addition

    emoticon cheers too.gif
     
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2017
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  10. Volodya

    Volodya Junior Member

    My example of a slightly different variety of the OP coin, with reverse legend ANTONIVS IMP reading counter-clockwise rather than clockwise; CRI 302, rather than 302a:

    Phil (160).JPG
     
  11. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    I wasn't questioning the coin's authenticity. I never doubted it. Sometimes when I take pics, the images come out a little browning and not the true color. I think it's a matter lighting.

    BTW, I love your coin @Volodya
     
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  12. Sallent

    Sallent Live long and prosper

    The quality of @Volodya 's collection never ceases to amaze me.
     
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2017
  13. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    Sweet coin alde!

    Vespasian loved the type too.

    V686.JPG
     
  14. alde

    alde Always Learning

    Nice coin. I will be looking for more coins in this little sub-set. I have my eye on the one with Antony's portrait as mentioned in the quote from the book.
     
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  15. gregarious

    gregarious E Pluribus Unum

    that is a nice portrait coin and with marcs name on it. lipidus was a member of the triumvirate but didn't get his name on there. yes lots of history in these octavian(augustus) denarius 001.JPG octavian(augustus) denarius 003.JPG
     
  16. Sallent

    Sallent Live long and prosper

    Had Lepidus not been Pontifex Maximus, Augustus would have had him strangled instead of letting him retire from politics. Lepidus just wasn't as sharp as Augustus or Anthony. He had no one to blame but himself for being the footnote in the Triumvirate.

    s-l1600.jpg

    * Sadly not my coin. Could be yours for 13K. You could kill Octavian and Lepidus with one stone (an expensive stone).
     
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2017
  17. alde

    alde Always Learning

    Don't I wish. Maybe I could sell my car. Maybe not.
     
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  18. Volodya

    Volodya Junior Member

  19. Sallent

    Sallent Live long and prosper

  20. alde

    alde Always Learning

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  21. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

    A nice looking coin
     
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