An Augustus (Octavian) denarius I couldn't resist

Could not resist to have this denarius

A historically important issue commemorating the successful conclusion of Octavian's campaign in Egypt. The Ptolemaic Kingdom had been reduced to a Roman province.
In 29 BC, Octavian returned to Rome for his official triumph, a triple one.

Not only a crocodile is depicted on the reverse; on the obverse, there is a tiny Capricorn just below the neck of a youthful Octavian.

Uncertain eastern mint (Pergamum or Ephesus?), 28 BC
19.5 mm, 3.63 g, 12h

RIC I (second edition) 545; RSC (Augustus) 4; CRI 432; Sear (RCV 2000 Edition) 1565; Sear, Imperators 432; BMCRE (Augustus) 653 = BMCRR East 246;

Ob.: CAESAR DIVI F COS•VI Bare head of Octavian to r., below neck small Capricorn to r. Border of dots.
Rev.: Crocodile standing to r.; AEGVPTO above, CAPTA below. Border of dots.

Please share your AEGVPTO CAPTA coins or anything you deem relevant.

Picture courtesy CNG:

 

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Very nice piece! I know right next to absolutely nothing about ancients but I peruse them all the time in GC, Heritage, Ma-shops, etc. and this is the kind of coin that I linger on/ put in my tracking.

 

Absolutely fantastic coin, a great credit to your collection...did you win tatts?

 

Frickin Gator. What part of the roman empire would have a Gator?
Fun coin!

 

@Ancient Aussie, I have no idea what "win tatts" means? And Google doesn't know either LOL

 

Apart from Egypt, also Nemausus, and most probably there were other parts of the Empire that depicted them on coins. Don't know if there were real gators in Nemausus

 

Of course it's not a gator but a Nile crocodile. The crocodile in ancient Egypt was a god called Sobek.



The Romans, not the Greek, made this crocodile a symbol of Egypt. We find this crocodile on coins of Augustus celebrating the victory on Egypt at Actium. On the coins of Nemausus the crocodile (Egypt) is chained to a palm (the victory).



This crocodile is also represented with the god of the river Nile.


Antoninus Pius, AE drachm of Alexandria. The Nile reclining over a crocodile, holding cornucopia with a child's bust and a reed.

 

What a fantastic piece, congrats.

 

It's a choice example of a very iconic type. I'm a bit envious! Congrats!

 

Our lottery here in Australia is called tattslotto, where if you pick six numbers you get a major prize of 1-3 million dollars.. but I'm sure you wouldn't need that that much for that wonderful coin..

 

I don't know you yanks, when it comes to slang I can't keep up with you..for instance when I was in LA in the year 2000, I really felt like a meat pie but unfortunately they kept trying to give me blueberry and other assorted fruit pies...didn't have a clue what a what a meat pie was, and it got worse when I asked for a sarsaparilla soft drink..(root beer)

 

Lol, well, you were in LA. Had you been up and over to Minnesota, I’d have given you exactly what you asked for.

 

@cmezner --- AWESOME pickup! Very nice. Dana have, but I have his AE Croc...

@Pickin and Grinin ... you probly really know this, but Gators are an American thang. Romans had Crocs via their occupation of Egypt.

ROMAN / EGYPT Croc...


RI Augustus oak crown Agrippa rostral crown L AE Dupondius 26mm 12.6g Type III 9-3 BCE Nemausus chained Croc wreaths RIC I 158

American Gator:



Gator in North Carolina (yeah, really was harrassin' folks)



And how I like 'em (NUMMY):

 

Thanks next time I'm in the states I will take you up on that offer.

 

I almost forgot to post my croc coin..

 

That looks phenomenal! I don't think I've seen an ancient coin with a crocodile on it before now! Very unique, congrats on your pickup!

 

Whoa! @cmezner - congratulations on such a fantastic acquisition! That is a rare and expensive type, very hard to find! And it happens to be my favorite type for Augustus. I was once the underbidder on a somewhat worn and crusty example. I'd absolutely love to acquire one someday.