Augustus denarius

Great coin and good work. Your final attribution is correct.

 

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That’s a very impressive set. Love the Octavian piece! Thanks for sharing.

 

Me and James got into a fight. Guess who won....



It’s my fave denarius.

Erin

 

Great stuff Erin! I am not sure who won. My coin has a big slash mark across the neck of Augustus that I like to think is a Banker’s test cut - but who knows? But yours with a big hole in the head of Augustus and a chunk of flan missing has a lot of character. Do you want to settle for a draw?

 

Works for me, James. Lol

I wouldn’t replace mine, even with one in perfect condition. This Augustus has a lot of stories. I just wish he’d share them with me.

Erin

 

If your coin ever speaks up, ask if it knew my coin 2000 years ago. Were they nailed to the same post?

 

@VDB Thank you for starting this thread about my favorite: Augustus.
Your coin is awesome!! Congrats, great choice!

Some of my Augustus denarii - pictures are not so good...
Lugdunum, struck 15 - 13 BC
Ref.: RIC I 171A; Lyon 28; RSC 144;
Obv.: AVGVSTVS DIVI F bare head of Augustus right;
Rev.: IMP • X across field, ACT • in exergue, Apollo Citharoedus of Actium, wearing long drapery, standing facing, head left, holding plectrum in right hand and lyre in left.
Apollo Actius is honored by Augustus in this reverse type for his victory at the Battle of Actium, where an ancient temple dedicated to Apollo overlooked the sea. Augustus also had the temple enlarged and renovated as an expression of his gratitude, and he similarly dedicated the Actian Games in further celebration.

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One like Cucumbor's with Victory facing left:
undetermined Italian mint, 32 - 29 BC;
20 mm, 3.77 g;
Ref.: RIC 254B; Cohen 64
Obv.: bare head of Augustus left
Rev.: CAESAR – DIVI F Victory standing to l. on globe and holding wreath in extended r. hand and shouldering palm branch with l. hand

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Not long after Drusus died in an accident in 9 BC, Tiberius was sent to take over the German campaign, which focused principally on solidifying control over the areas that Drusus had conquered between the Rhine and the Ems. He won a major victory, and in the following year he was awarded a triumph, the tribunician power for five years, and his second consulship. Except for the troublesome Sugambri, the rest of the conquered German tribes readily sued for peace, sending emissaries to visit Augustus, who had taken up residence in Lugdunum. This denarius celebrates the conclusion of that campaign, and it would seem to depict the surrender of German kings to Augustus or Tiberius, with the defeated tribes offering their young as hostages. They would grow up in the circles of nobility, being educated in the Roman manner. As well as serving as leverage against their fathers, they could be used as pretenders to the conquered thrones in case of civil war.
Gallia, Lugdunum, 8 BC
16 x 19 mm, 3.74 g;
Ref.: RIC I 201A; Cohen 133; Lyon 65; RSC 175
Obv.: AVGVSTVS DIVI F Laureate head right
Rev.: No legend; in ex: IMP•XIIII - on right Augustus, bareheaded and togate, seated left on curule chair set on low daïs, extending his right hand toward a cloaked Gaul or German on left, standing right, presenting a child held out in both hands toward Augustus.

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And a Denarius of Augustus depicting Gaius Caesar on horseback, like the one posted by Ancient Aussie. The coin commemorates Augustus' introduction of his 12-year-old adopted son to the army in Gaul. Gaius still wears a bulla, which flies out from his neck and is emphasized on the coin by its exaggerated size. Tragically, his brother Lucius fell ill and died in August 2 AD, and around the same time Gaius was wounded while besieging the Armenian city of Artagira. He died eighteen months later at the age of twenty-four. Their deaths robbed the empire of two most promising young princes, and Augustus of his most favored heirs. The aged emperor was left inconsolable with grief, and the way was thus cleared for the succession of Tiberius.
The use of the word DIVI on later coins tended to be a posthumous reference to the deceased (and deified) imperial person, however, here it was intended as a familial reference to a deceased parent. Mattingly observes that this reverse type is particularly well suited to Gaul.
Lugdunum, Gallia 9 BC
17 x 19 mm; 4 g
Ref.: RIC 199; Sear 1596; Cohen 40;
Obv.: AVGVSTVS DIVI·F Head of Augustus, laureate, right
Rev.: C·CAES above, AVGVS·F in exergue; Gaius Caesar galloping right, holding sword and shield in left hand, aquila between two standards on ground

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I think I am getting carried away by this thread, it is addictive for me, so I better stop

 

Great collection. Thank you for sharing! Amazing how much history is storees in these tiny bits of silver. Love it!

 

Will do, Doug!

Erin

 

VDB, what a great coin to start your XII Caesars with, congrats.

Doug

 

Very nice denarius @VDB , I really like the reverse, and I personally am not familiar with it. Well done!

Also, some dynamite AR Denarii postings! Love'm all!

I always note the Denarius seems so pervasive. I also have a couple AR Quinarii to share (they seem to not get top-billing by the crowds... ):

Not centered, but the reverses flow-lines are purdy cool to me.

RI Augustus AR Denarius struck 2 BC-14 AD Caius and Lucius Caesars stdg shield spear S 1578 NGC4276216-007


QUINARIUS:


RI Octavian as Augustus 25-23 BCE AR Quinarius RIGHT facing bust Emerita Augusta Sear 1642

Aaand....JUST to do it... got a LEFT facing version:

Octavian as Augustus LEFT-Sinister 27 BC–14 AD Quinarius Emerita 25-23 AR 13.5mm 1.79g - P CARISI LEG Victory trophy C 387. RIC 1b SCARCE

Yeah, not too Historical, rather it was one of my few NUMISMATIC decisions. But, well, it fell into that "Hard-to-find" category in my thought process...


Here's an ugly one, but given to me by a respected CT'er:

RI Augustus Quinarius - possibly Asia Recepta - blank wore-off-rev
(This guy never gets respect, he needed to be posted!)

 

This thread has shown that there are some really different and interesting designs in the denarii of Augustus. Things had not yet settled down into the pattern we associate with the standard Roman Imperial denarius. I guess we can blame Tiberius for that since he spent most of his reign with one reverse. I have a couple denarius types of Augustus that have not made this thread yet. Forgive me that they are fourrees. There was a time I bought fourrees (back when no one else would?). My few solid Augustus coins are the common types already shown here. I'm sure someone here has solid versions of my coins.

 

@VDB BMCR 669, pl. 16, 12: Laurel-wreath interwoven with rostra and tied with a fillet, the long ties of which are drawn up across the centre. struck BC 27, in the East.

I think that Augustus has seen this coin surely as his most important:

Augustus, 27 BC - D 14
AR - denarius, 3.74g, 19mm, 180°
Colonia Patricia(?), c. 19-18 BC
obv. CAESAR AVGVSTVS, bare head r.
rev. Round Shield with inscription CL.V between legionary eagle l. and standard r.,
SPQR at the 4 corners of the shield, SIGNIS above, RECEPTIS below
ref. RIC I, 86a; BMCR 417; RSC 265
about EF, toned

CL.V is the abbreviation of Clipeus Virtutis = Shield of Bravery, that was dedicated by the Senate for outstanding merits for the Republic.

In 53 BC the Triumvir M. Licinius Crassus was defeated devastatingly in the Battle of Carrhae and killed by betrayal. 3 legions were annihilated and their legionary eagles captured by the Parthians. This was one of the most serious military defeats of the Romans and the loss of the legionary eagles was considered as heaviest disgrace of a commander. This defeat was a festering wound in the self-awareness of the Romans.

In 20 BC Augustus succeeded by diplomatic negotiations in motivating the Parthians undet Phraates IV to return the legionary eagles and to release the Roman captives. This was celebrated in Rome as big victory. In honour the Parthian arch was erected and this coin too celebrates this success.

The return of the legionary eagles is depicted too in the main scene of the cuirass of the famous statue of Augustus of Prima Porta (today in the Musei Vaticani). The legionary eagles were displayed in the temple of Mars Ultor that was erected for them on the Forum of Augustus. The day of return was declared National Holiday and celebrated still in the 4th century AD.

Best regards

 

Jochen, I totally agree, the historical importance of this issue can't be underestimated. The portrait of Augustus is outstanding & the toning enhances the entire coin .