The Roman Empire Begins

On this date in 27BC, The Roman Senate granted to Octavian, the adopted son of Julius Caesar, the title Augustus, giving him imperial powers, thus marking the end of the republic and the birth of an empire.

In "honor" of this event, show your Octavian/Augustus favorites.


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

 

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Here are my lifetime faves in chronological order:


Augustus, Ruled 27 BC-14 AD
AR Denarius, Struck 19-18 AD, Uncertain mint in Spain, possibly Colonia Caesaraugusta.
Obverse: CAESAR AVGVSTVS, bare head right.
Reverse: OB CIVIS / [SERVATOS], oak wreath with ties upward.
References: RIC I 40a
Size: 17mm, 3.68g
Ex: Ancient and Medieval Coins Canada, Auction 1, Lot #166 (12/1/2018)
Ex: CT Member @Severus Alexander
Notes: Banker’s mark (“F”) in left field of obverse, traces of gilding and mount (12 o’clock on obverse). The reverse depicts the oak wreath, the Corona Civica, awarded to Augustus by the Senate for having saved the Republic. (Somewhat ironic!) At the time of issue, Augustus was pursuing vigorous military policy in Spain; in 19 BCE the Cantabrians, from the northernmost coast, were brought under Roman control. 18 BCE saw the first of Augustus’s infamous moral laws, the Leges Iuliae.



Augustus, Ruled 27 BC – 14 AD
AE As, Issued 15 BC by Cn. Piso, moneyer.
Rome Mint
Obverse: CAESAR•AVGVSTVS TRIBVNIC•POTEST•, bare head right.
Reverse: CN•PISO•CN•F•IIIVIR•A•A•A•F•F•, legend surrounding large S•C.
References: RIC 382, Sear 1681
Size: 28mm, 10.69g


Augustus, Ruled 27 BC – 14 AD
AE Quadrans, Struck 9 BC, Rome mint
L. Aelius Lamia, P. Silius and Annius, moneyers
Obverse: LAMIA · SILIVS · ANNIVS ·, simpulum and lituus.
Reverse: III · VIR · A · A · A · F · F · around large S C.
References: RIC 421


Augustus, Ruled 27 BC-14 AD
AE Quadrans, Stuck 5 BC, Rome mint
Apronius, Galus, Messalla, and Sisenna; triumvirate (meaning the three men in charge of preparing blanks and minting coins in gold, silver and bronze), although there are the four names inscribed on coin.
Obverse: SISENNA MESSALLA IIIVIR, bowl-shaped, ornately decorated altar.
Reverse: GALVS APRONIVS A A A F F, legend surrounding SC.
References: RIC I 464
Size: 16mm, 2.9g


Augustus, Ruled 27 BC-14 AD
AR Denarius, Lugdunum Mint, Struck 2 BC-4 AD
Obverse: CAESAR AV[GVS]TVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE Laureate head of Augustus to right.
Reverse: AVGV[STI F C]OS [DESIG PRINC IVVENT] / [C] L CAESARES•, Gaius and Lucius Caesar standing, each, togate, resting hand on shield and spear, simpulum, left, and lituus, right, flanking, right and left respectively
References: RIC 210, RSC 43c
Size: 19.5mm, 3.6g
Ex: Pliego, 43rd Online Auction (March 26, 2019), Lot #81
Notes: Caius Caesar, born in 20 B.C. and Lucius Caesar, born in 17 B.C., were the sons of Agrippa and Julia, and the grandsons of Augustus. Augustus adopted them and designated them as his successors. As boy’s, they were declared consul elect, princeps juventutis, honored with priesthoods, and admitted to the senate. In 1 A.D. Caius was consul and was sent to Armenia, where he showed talent for both civil government and military enterprise. In 2 A.D., rather than invade, Gaius met with King Phraates V and concluded peace with the Parthians, who recognized Roman claims to Armenia. The brothers seemed destined for greatness. But Lucius, the younger of the two, died suddenly at Marseilles on 20 August 2 A.D. And, on his return from Armenia, Caius was treacherously wounded by a local Roman magistrate, fell into a lingering illness, and on 21 February 4 A.D., at the early age of 24, died at Limyra in Lycia. Augustus’ wife, their step-mother, Livia, was rumored to have arranged both of their deaths to advance her son Tiberius, who was later adopted as Augustus’ son and heir.

 

I have a couple of favorites. This one is a favorite ...


Augustus, 27 BC - AD 14.
Roman provincial AE 23.
Macedon, Amphipolis, 10.25 g, 23.3 mm, 1 h.
Obv: ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΘΕΟΥ ΥΙΟΣ, bare-head, right.
Rev: ΑΜΦΙΠΟΛΙΕΙΤΩΝ, Artemis Tauropolos with inflated veil, riding on bull galloping right.
Refs: BMC 5, p. 52, 73; Sear Greek Imperial 29.

... because it's an obverse die match to this one in the British Museum, based upon a line-drawing, of all things!



And this one is a favorite because it's an ex- @Bing !


Augustus, 27 BC - AD 14.
Roman Æ as, 8.41 g, 26.1 mm, 10 h.
Lugdunum, 10 BC - 6 BC.
Obv: CAESAR PONT MAX, laureate head, right.
Rev: ROM ET AVG, altar of Roma and Augustus, flanked by two columns, each surmounted by a statue of Victory.
Refs: RIC 230; BMCRE 549-556; Cohen 240; RCV 1690; CBN 1634.

And this one's a favorite because it's a crocodile!!


Augustus with Agrippa, 27 BC - AD 14.
Roman Æ as, 12.99 g, 26.3 mm, 4 h.
Nemausus, after 16/15 BC.
Obv: IMP/DIVI F, heads back to back of Augustus, right, bare, and Agrippa, left, wearing rostral crown.
Rev: COL-NEM to left and right of palm shoot, its tip to right, behind chained crocodile; two wreaths above palm tip.
Refs: RIC 155; RPC 523; Cohen 7; AMC 411; RCV 1729.
Notes: Sear (p. 338) notes this initial revival of the Nemausian series on a lighter weight standard is probably to be associated with Augustus' visit to Gaul in 16 BC.

 

Thanks for the reminder of what a massive day in history today was!!!
Augustus
SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria. Antioch. 27 BC-AD 14. Æ As 24mm,. Struck circa 27-25 BC. Bare head right / AVGVSTVS within laurel wreath. McAlee190; RPC I 4100. Good VF
Former: fortunancient

Augustus
Ae Diobol,
24 MM 8.65 GR
AE Diobol Year 41 = 11/12 AD, Egypt, City of Alexandria. Head R. Rs. LMA in the oak wreath. L

Rhoemetalces and Augustus
(11 BC-12 CE). Thrace. Æ (19mm, 5.89g, 3h). Diademed head of Rhoemetalces r. R/ Bare head of Augustus r. RPC I 1714. Green patina, Good VF


C. Caesar Octavianus, Quinarius, Rome, 29-26 BC; AR (g 1,67; mm 14; h 11); [CAESAR] - IMP [VII], bare head of Octavianus r., Rv. ASI[A] - RECEP[TA], Victory, holding wreath and palm branch, standing l. on cistamystica between two snakes. RIC 276; C 14.

 

My favorite Augustus is this Lugdunum as with countermark of Tiberius.


Most of my Augustus denarii are fourrees. Of them, it is hard to pick a favorite but I have always liked this one with a strong, full circle seam on obverse and reverse core exposure that defines fourree. Technically it is 'pre-Augustus' Octavian Autumn 30-summer 29 BC. Octavian’s Actian arch (arcus Octaviani), showing a single span surmounted by Octavian in facing triumphal quadriga. This was one of a group I bought in 1990 from the estate of a friend who had started my interest in technical collecting. If I had it to do over again, I would have bought many more of his coins since most were selected to be exceptional in ways not everyone understood.

From my page on fourrees:
The best fourrees were produced by wrapping a copper core with silver foil. This sandwich was heated and struck with dies. If the heating and the force of striking were sufficient the two layers would adhere producing a thin layer of eutechtic (the alloy of two metals with the lowest melting point) at the bond. Some workshops strengthened this bond with a powdered eutechtic sprinkled between the layers. It is not always easy to tell which method was used on any particular coin. This denarius of Augustus shows seams on the obverse where the edges of the silver foil wrapper were fused by the striking process. The seam usually shows only on one side. (Try wrapping an English Muffin in two small pieces of aluminum foil and you will understand both the technique and the reason for this.) Copper core is evident on the high wear points on the reverse. The overlap left thicker silver on the seamed side so it follows that the first wear through to the core would be on the other side.

 

Here's an Augustus reverse type that hasn't shown up in this thread yet, part of the "Signis Receptis" series commemorating the return in 20 BC of the standards captured by the Parthians from Crassus:

 

Blasted Democrats.......

 

4 denarii of Octavian - his triumphal arch; the commemoration of regaining his lost standards ; his victory over Antony and Cleopatra in Egypt, and again with Victory on a globe.

 

Very nice examples all. Here are a few of mine

 

A less popular type is this fourree which lacks a portrait.


Unusual for my coins, this capricorn is not fourree.


Another favorite is this comet coin once nailed to something that still has part of the iron nail in the hole. I would be much happier if the man with the hammer had hit it just one tome fewer so he did not so much damage to the obverse.

 

Here is another interesting early denarius of Octavius with a beard to express his mourning the recent murder of his adoptive father Julius Caesar.

 

This issue (under Tiberius) was gifted to me from a fellow CoinTalk member..
one of the nicest gifts I have ever received.



This is my favorite coin....


Octavian/Augustus and Divus Julius Caesar, Orichalcum Sestertius, 29mm, 12.98 gm, Mint in Italy, 38 BC. Obv: CAESAR DIVI F bare head of Octavian right Rx: DIVOS IVLIVS laureate head of Julius Caesar right
(my photo displays JC on the left)

A Provincial issue:


AE unit of Augustus 27 BC. - 14 AD., Philippi, Macedonia - bare head of Augustus right, AVG behind / two colonists (or priests?) ploughing right with yoke of oxen (3.12 grams, 16/15 mm)

 

Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.36 g, 11h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck 2 BC-AD 12. Laureate head right / Caius and Lucius Caesars standing facing, two shields and two spears between them; above, on left, simpulum right, and on right, lituus left. RIC I 207; Lyon 82; RSC 43.

 

Lots of great historical types above!


Denarius, issued 32-29 BCE (just before acquiring the Augustus title)


Quinarius, ASIA RECEPTA, 29-28 BCE


Philippi


Antioch tetradrachm, issued 5 BCE

 

@Bing that is a really difficult one. All my Augustus are my favorites. I also have to consider only the ones where my pictures aren't too bad.

Denarius, Gallia, Lugdunum, ca. 2 BC - 4 AD
17 x 19 mm, 3.74 g
Ref.: RIC 210; RSC 43c; BMCRE 540; CBN 1659; Giard, Lyon 85; Cohen 143

Ob.: CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE laureate head r.
Rev.: AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT Gaius and Lucius Caesar togate, standing facing, holding honorary shields and spears between them; above, on left, lituus, and on right, simpulum, C L CAESARES in ex.

​

Denarius, Uncertain Spanish mint (Colonia Caesaraugusta?). Struck 19-18 BC
18 x 21 mm,3.51 g
Ref.: RIC I 33B; RSC 48; BMCRE 318-20 = BMCRR Gaul 144-6;

Ob.: Head of Augustus to left with Corona Civica
Rev.: CAESAR above, AVGVSTVS below, two laurel branches (or trees) upright.

​

Æ Dupondius, Southern Italian mint, 38 BC
31 mm, 22.71 g
Ref.: RPC 620; Crawford 535/1; RRC 535/1; CRI 308; Sydenham 1335-1336; Babelon Julia 98;

Ob.: DIVI•F CAESAR bare head of Octavian right wearing slight beard
Rev.: DIVOS IVLIVS laureate head of Julius Caesar right

​

Æ As, Rome, 7 - 5 BC
26 mm, 10.77 g
Ob.: CAESAR•AVGVST•PONT•MAX• TRIBVNIC•POT Bare head of Augustus l.
Rev.: P•LVRIVS•AGRIPPA•III•VIR•A•A•A•F•F large S • C

​

Æ16 Trichalkon, Eucarpia (Phrygia), 27 BC - 14 AD
15 x 16 mm, 7.34 g
Ref.: RPC 3159; AMC 1382, SNG Cop. 367; SNG von Aulock 8363;
Ob.: ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ laureate head right; Lituus below chin
Rev.: EYKAPΠITIKOY - ΛYKIΔAΣ EVΞENOY Goddess Cybele standing facing, raising right arm and raising hem of robe with left; (Lykidas Euxenou, magistrate)

​

Will keep looking; maybe I find some other extra favorites
Thank you so much @Bing for this thread. I am enjoying it very much

 

I find Augustus's non portrait denarii especially interesting :




Augustus AR Denarius. . Spanish mint (Colonia Patricia?), circa 18 BC. Aquila, toga picta over tunica palmata, and wreath; S•P•Q•R• PAR(ENT) above, CONS•SVO below / Slow quadriga right, the car ornamented at front and on side with Victories and surmounted by four miniature horses galloping right; CAESA(RI )above, AVGVST(O) below. RIC 99; BMCRE 397; RSC 78. 3.63g, 18mm, 5h.




Augustus, RIC 256 C. 60



Denarius. Rome. P. Petronius Turpilianus, moneyer.

Obv: TVRPILIANVS III VIR / FE RON.
Diademed and draped bust of Feronia right.
Rev: CAESAR AVGVSTVS SIGN RECE.
Parthian kneeling right in attitude of submission, offering up vexillum (marked X) and extending hand.

RIC² 288.

 

This 'grandsons' fourrée is my most recent Augustus.

 

Around when it was all happening Octavian soon to be Augustus 29 BC.

Curia Julia senate house denarius 29 BC, Octavian. 3.5gm.

 

Some lovely coins on show here’s my only Octavian for now ! Octavian. 30-29 BC. AR Denarius (3.75 g, 10h 19mm). Italian (Rome?) mint. Bare head right / IMP CAESAR on the architrave of Octavian’s Actian arch (arcus Octaviani), showing a single span surmounted by Octavian in facing triumphal quadriga. This arch was awarded to Octavian in 29BC for his victory, defeating Antony and Coleoptera at the battle of Actium,Very fine with interesting bankers mark. RIC I 267; CRI 422; RSC 123;