Augustus Denarius (might be my new favorite)

Nice!

 

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Nice score, DR. It's a great type and still on my want list. For the moment, I only have Valerian's low budget version from ~250 years later.


VALERIAN
AE/Billon Antoninianus. 3.38g, 20.8mm. Antioch mint, AD 257. RIC V 277 (scarce). O: IMP VALERIANVS AVG, radiate, draped bust right. R: PM TRP V COS IIII PP, Valerian and Gallienus standing face to face; resting two shields and two upright spears between them.

 

Cool addition @Deacon Ray, common yes, but every collector wants one I guess, so many will envy yours


ROMAN EMPIRE, AUGUSTUS Denarius, RIC 207 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

 

Nice one D Ray.. and others posted too... it's a must for silver of the 12 Caesars..

 

Same here, @Smojo ! I'm still being haunted by the ghost of Christmas Presents

 

Great coin Deacon Ray, and another brilliant presentation.

 

Lovely coin. I've only had 1 Augustus Denarius; though it was recently sold. Mine had the bull on the back

I've always leaned toward the Tribute Penny being Tiberius. A few reasons:
The obvious
- Tiberius was Caesar and Augustus had been dead for 16-18 years.
- It's hard to render something to someone when they're dead (though I know for the sake of Jesus' argument, the coin could have been anyone that represented Imperial Rome, back to Julius.)
- In the Mark 12, the question from the Pharisees is ".... Is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?" With Tiberius being the subject (Caesar) and Jesus asking to take a look at the coin in which Caesar demands as a tax; it only makes sense to conclude that Tiberius would be the bust upon the Denarius, as the answer is the same and Tiberius was already part of the subject matter.

The not so obvious:
- It seems, historically and numismatically, that the only person referred to as Caesar, save Julius, was the man currently in the position. I can't think of any "DIVVS" denarii or AEs where the deceased have been referred to as Caesar in any capacity. Sometimes AVG, but never CAES.
- In most cases of "DIVVS" denarii, the laurel wreath is removed. Most are bare head or radiate. The only Divus denarii I can think of where the deceased emperor retains the laureate bust are Vespasian & Claudius. I'm not sure if the Laureate bust is synonymous with the title, Caesar, but believe it should be entered into the argument as symbolism that their duty as Caesar and being referred to as such, is over.

Just thinking out loud. I'm sure their are a few anomalies that invalidate the last two arguments. I would be glad if it were the Lugdunum denarius; so those prices could be artificially inflated and maybe the Tiberius denarius would come back below $300.

- Michael

 

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