The Roman Empire Begins

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Bing, Jan 16, 2021.

  1. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    On this date, 27 BC, the Roman Empire begins as the Senate grants 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.

    Augustus 1.jpg
    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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  3. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

  4. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    James, Nice score & historically an important coin :D!. Pictured below for comparison is a portrait of the youthful Octavian on a denarius I recently sold on CNG 483. It was struck at Ephesus, circa 41 BC.

    Octavian.jpg
     
  5. Limes

    Limes Well-Known Member

    I've read the transition went rather smooth. I can imagine however that after that many years of civil war, people were tired, and all enemies of Augustus killed...

    Here's my Augustus coin pile:
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    1.1.png
     
  6. Ocatarinetabellatchitchix

    Ocatarinetabellatchitchix Well-Known Member

    Oups @Bing ! I was writing while you were posting...sorry.
     
  7. Sulla80

    Sulla80 Well-Known Member

    A quinarius of Augustus not long after his victory in Actium. This coin seemed to be a nice complement to your collection of legionary denarii:
    The colony of Emerita was founded by Augustus in 25 BC for the veterans (emeriti) of the legions V and VII. The legatus Augusti, P. Carisius, was charged with maintaining the military operations in western Spain. Carisius also established a mint there to finance his activities, 25-20 BC.
    Augustus Quinarius RIC 1a.jpg Augustus, 27 BC-AD 14, AR Quinarius, Emerita mint (Spain), P. Carisius, legatus pro praetore, struck circa 25-23 BC
    Obv: AVGVST, Bare head right
    Rev: CARIS I LEG, Victory standing right, placing wreath on a trophy consisting of helmet and cuirass; dagger and sword hilt at base of trophy
    Ref: RIC I 1a
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2021
  8. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    Better twice than none !
    A good opportunity to post more coins of his !

    [​IMG]
    Augustus, Denarius - Rome mint, 2 BC
    CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE, Laureate head of Augustus right
    AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT, Caius and Lucius holding shields and spears
    3,65 gr
    Ref : RCV # 1597, Cohen # 43, RIC # 207

    Q
     
  9. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

  10. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Nice coin. The death of the republic, the beginning of the Imperium.
     
  11. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Well then, what could be more fitting for this thread than a coin of Augustus that used to be in @Bing's collection?

    Augustus ROM ET AVG as Lugdunum.jpg
    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.
     
  12. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    I like Quinarii, @Bing... And would enjoy having yours in my collection. In fact, I believe I was inspired to get one like yours (below) when you posted yours a long time ago. I grabbed this low cost version, but forgot to UPGRADE it! :)

    Here is my "possible" ASIA RECEPTA"...


    upload_2021-1-16_9-34-31.png
    RI Augustus Quinarius - possibly Asia Recepta - blank wore-off-rev

    AND...

    And here he is looking right and left for AGRIPPA asking "what should I do, Grippy?"

    upload_2021-1-16_9-36-23.png
    Octavian as Augustus LEFT-Sinister 27 BC–14 CE AR Quinarius Emerita 25-23 AR 13.5mm 1.79g - P CARISI LEG Victory trophy C 387. RIC 1b SCARCE


    upload_2021-1-16_9-37-15.png
    RI Octavian as Augustus 25-23 BCE AR Quinarius RIGHT facing bust Emerita Augusta Sear 1642
     
  13. Terence Cheesman

    Terence Cheesman Well-Known Member

    In a real sense the beginning of the Roman Empire can be encapsulated with this one coin. Octavian Ar Denarius 29-27 BC Unknown Italian mint Obv Head of Octavian right bare headed. CAESAR COS VI Rv. Crocodile advancing right. AEGVPTO CAPTA RIC 275a CRI 430 3.71 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen augustusd55.jpg First of all it celebrates the end of the last Hellenistic Monarchy then still in existence, thus beginning the complete domination by Rome of the Mediterranean basin. Secondly and perhaps not known by them, at the time, it does celebrate the end of the Roman civil wars and thus inaugurates the Pax Romana. Third it does hint at the transformation of Octavian the warlord to Augustus the emperor. On previous issues Octavian usually is described as Imperator or as the son of the god Julius Caesar. In this issue we see none of the military trappings but instead we see him inserting himself within Roman political conventions. It is at this time we see him "restoring" the Republic. Octavian's journey from warlord to Princeps is a long and careful one and soon after this coin was struck we see the final transmutation the adoption of the honorific Augustus.
    Planchet archives at: https://edmontoncoinclub.com/the-planchet/the-planchet-archived/
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2021
  14. Archeocultura

    Archeocultura Well-Known Member

    A nice early portrait from the East 3a nr 006 I Augustus 485 AE 28 Pergamon 3a nr 006.jpg
     
    monetarium, Andres2, Bing and 4 others like this.
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