Augustus lived for 77 years, 41 years Emperor.

Interesting idea for a thread.

This certainly seems to be true -- coins from the end of his life appear very similar to coins from the prime of his life.

Not sure that I understand your meaning. I think you meant that the reign of the average Roman Emperor, after ascending to Emperor, was 2.5 - 3 years. Their lifespans were in general much longer than the average Roman -- average Roman lifespan was under 30 years, while most emperors lived a lot longer. I think this longer life span is probably due to better food and less interaction with the masses who carried life-threatening diseases.

Octavian at 21 years old:

MARC ANTONY & OCTAVIAN, 42 B.C.
AV Aureus (8.12 gm.) Ephesus mint, 41 B.C.
M ANT IMP AVG III VIR R P C M BARBAT Q P Bare head of Marc Antony right. Rev. CAESAR IMP PONT III VIR R P C Bare head of Octavian right.

Octavian at 35 years old:

OCTAVIAN (AUGUSTUS)
AR Denarius (3.84 g.) Brundisium & Rome (?) ca. 29 - 27 B.C. RIC 265a
Bare head of Octavian right; rev. IMP - CAESAR military trophy, base crossed w/rudder and anchor set on prow right

Augustus at 52 years old:

AUGUSTUS
AV Aureus (7.90 g.) Lugdunum circa 11 - 10 B.C. RIC 196
AVGVSTVS - DIVI-f Laureate head right. Rev. IMP - XII Diana, wearing polos and long drapery, advancing r., holding bow and taking arrow from quiver. In exergue, SICIL.
From the Biaggi collection, ex Gilhofer & Ranschburg and Hess 22 May 1935

Augustus at 65 - 70 years old (supposedly, not likely):

AUGUSTUS
AE Sestertius (26.20 g.) Lugdunum circa 9 - 14 A.D. RIC 231a
CAESAR AVGVTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE Laureate head of Augustus r. Rev. ROM ET AVG Altar of Lugdunum. From the Gasvoda collection.

 

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Great minds think alike!

 

Really need a better camera... but here's my Augustus! This thing looks so much better in hand, you can make out all the lettering on the shield.


-Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius (3.53 g, 5h). Spanish mint (Colonia Caesaraugusta?). Struck 19-18 BC. Bare head right / S•P•Q•R• /CL•V in two lines on round shield.

 

Terrific coins everyone, and some great replies, I have another one here very youthful looking Augustus in his mid-fifties a silver denarius 3.28gm minted 8 BC Lugdunum, his adopted son Caius on horseback on reverse. RIC 199

 

Cool idea, @Ancient Aussie ! I have a few gently used examples that have been around the block! But, I always wonder where these little guys have been and who were trading them!

OCTAVIAN:


RImp Octavian 27BC-14AD AR Den mint 32-31 BC Bare Caesar Divi Divi Mercury lyre RIC 257


RImp AR Quinarius Octavian 29-28 BCAsia Recepta Victory Cista Snakes S 1568

 

AVGVSTVS:


Augustus AR Denarius - Obv-Rev Sear 1578 NGC4276216-007


RI Augustus Quinarius - possibly Asia Recepta - blank wore-off-rev
Cost-us Freebius!


RI AR Quinarius Augustus 25-23 BCE Emerita Augusta Sear 1642

 

It's an endless source of wonder to me that the sickly, bloodthirsty little twerp Octavian, useful only for his adoptive father's name, grew up to be Augustus!

 

I am always amazed by that too. He went on to have the gumption to defeat everyone around him!

 

Octavian, 41 BC




Octavian, 31-30 BC




Augustus, 19-18 BC




Augustus, 12 BC




Augustus, 2 BC




Q

 

A few Octavians:

 

Three more:

 

I haven't glad you posted it, lovely coin and portrait, a lot of silver there one of Syrian Tets I presume.

 

Some great coins, huge run of silver for Octavian/Augustus is the rest of your collection this big?

 

Nice coins Alegandron, I especially like the Augustus portrait on the top one.

 

Thank you. A friend of mine bought it, and had it slabbed. Within a few days of him receiving it back from the slabber, I bought it and freed it from the slab that evening. I felt like I had freed a dog from the Humane Society!

 

Nice coin Aidan, comes with an extra bit of history as it's been hanging around some ancient persons neck. It is hard to photograph shiny silver, I couldn't do much better.

 

WOW those coins are incredibly good IdesOfMarch01

 

Wow, fantastic Augustus examples => awesome!!

Ummm, I also have a few sweet AE examples to toss-in ...

Augustus Quadrans, Lamia/Silia/Annius, AE Quadrans



Augustus, Spain Celsa, L Bag/Mn Flav "Duoviri", AE As



Divus Augustus, AE Sestertius

 

An Octavian I don't think I've posted yet. Ex Leo Benz.