Featured Who is PVBLIVS LVRIVS AGRIPPA ?

Having more spare times lately, I'm revisiting some old friends (coins). I'd like to present you my 2 Augustus twins. As you can see, they are not really twins: one has the bust facing left and the other one facing right. But they have the same obverse legend, ditto for the reverse legend, both asses with the same size (25mm) and almost same weight (8.05g vs 8.35g). One is a RIC 428 and the other RIC 427 ; Cohen 446 and Cohen 445. So let's say they are at least brothers, aren't they ? They both bare the name of the same moneyer: P LVRIVS AGRIPPA.



These magistrates were responsible for the production of the Roman coinage. They were not simple mint workers (monetarii), they were officials who controlled the process, including the design on the coins themselves. Membership in the vigintisexvirate was for most of them the first step on the cursus honorum, the age when the post could be held appears to have been approximately 30, although some held it at a greater age and there is some evidence that the position was appointed rather than elected. In any case, the magistrate's control of the legend on the coinage lent itself to the production of coins containing political messages. This was self-advertising to further the political career of the moneyers themselves (or their families) or that of their patrons; in a word, propaganda.
But the big question is : who is this guy exactly ? We know nothing at all about him, but let's try to dig deeper to maybe find out some interesting informations about Publius Lurius Agrippa. 7 BC was the year of Tiberius triumph for his military success in Germany. Augustus reopened the mint of Rome in 18 BC and reconstitued the board of 3 moneyers instead of 4. These issues are typically but not surely dated to 7 BC. There is a possibility that tresuiri monetales got usually their job at around 30 years old or so, since Sulla's constitutional reforms and it also made the person eligible for the Senate. Emperor Augustus was attempting to cloak his reign in constitutional forms, and probably trying to do so with this basic "S-C" ( by decree of the Senate) coinage.


Augustus bust (Munich Museum)

So, Publius was maybe around 30 years old. The other contemporary familiar Lurius was Marcus, cognomen not clearly recorded, who played a crucial role of Commander of the right wing of the Caesarean fleet under Octavian at least up to the battle of Actium in 31 BC. If Publius was approximately 30 in 7 BC, then he would have been a young child at the time of Actium, consistent with being a child of one of the top Caesarians, who were mostly young men. We also have to remember that Julia, daughter of Octavian and Vipsania, daughter of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa (consul, statesman, friend and son-in- law of Octavian) were about the same age as Publius. At least 3 historians wrote about Marcus Lurius:

Cassius Dio XLVIII, 30
Now after Menas had accomplished all this as described, he sailed to Sardinia and engaged in a conflict with Marcus Lurius, the governor there; and at first he was routed, but later, when the other was pursuing him heedlessly, he awaited his attack and turned the tables upon Lurius by winning an unexpected victory over him.

Appian, Bellum Civile, v.55
Thus Octavian dismissed Lurius with honour, but kept a secret watch upon him by means of his lieutenants.

Velleius Paterculus II, 85
The command of the right wing of Caesar's fleet was entrusted to Marcus Lurius, of the left to Arruntius, while Agrippa had full charge of the entire conflict at sea.

Consequently, there is a good probability that Publius was the son of Marcus, who may have been long deceased and his father's old boss was giving him a ticket to entry the Senate. An unrisky, loyal and constitutional choice that would not make anyone too ambitious nor unreasonably envious as he modernized the bronze coinage. So perhaps Publius was better placed and respected than the history reveals...This is only a theory but I had a lot of fun doing researches about my two twins. Now, please show my your Publius Lurius, Augustus or moneyers series' coins !

 

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I dont have a coin to share but i enjoy the write up! Thanks for posting it.

 

With so much time staying home, I am also "visiting" coins and checking for possible mistakes in my attributions - there are a lot.

Nice write-up @Ocatarinetabellatchitchix. Have been looking for information about Lurius Agrippa for a long time, and could only find that he was one of the tres viri. Thank you for sharing the information you have found

The Augustus bust from the Glyptothek is awesome, love it!

Have a couple too:

RIC I, 427; Cohen 445:

This one is very worn and very dark, so taking a picture is a nightmare; however, it has a countermark that I like very much:

Æ As, Rome, 7 BC
25 x 26 mm, 10.461 g

Ob.: CAESAR AVGVST PONT MAX TRIBVNIC POT, bare head right
Rev.: P LVRIVS AGRIPPA III VIR AAAFF around large S C; Countermark IMPAVG

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Same type, in better condition, no countermark:
Rome, 7 - 5 BC
26 mm, 10.808g

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and the issue with head to left, on an irregular flan and off-center:
Rome, 7 BC
26 x 27 mm, 11.852 g
RIC I 428; Cohen 446;
same legends as RIC I, 427

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Pretty nice examples @cmezner . Thanks for sharing. Having one with a countermark is one of my target. I'd like to add a little brother to the family.

 

I don't have any PVBLIVS LVRIVS AGRIPPA to show, but I can share a M SALVIVS OTHO from the same series


Augustus, As - 7 BC
CAESAR AVGVST PONT MAX TRBUNIC POT, Bare head of Augustus left
M SALVIVS OTHO III VIR AAA FF, around SC
11.18 gr
Ref : RCV # 1685 var, Cohen # 516

Q