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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Terence Cheesman, post: 7812531, member: 86498&quot;]Earlier this week I commented on a thread involving a denarius of Augustus with the reverse of a butting bull. As a result I got into a very enjoyable debate with @cmerzner over the messaging on this coin. What was particularly fascinating is that much of our debate was centered on this book[ATTACH=full]1342411[/ATTACH]Which is a book that i would highly recommend. If there was to be a final book kept in my library, this on would be a very strong contender. It is because of this book that I came to the conclusion that where ever possible if one is trying to determine the message on any one Roman Imperial coin, they should also studied the coins that were minted contemporaneously. Zanker does examine the IMP X issue minted by Augustus in some detail. The main focus of the issue is the subjugation of Raetia by Tiberius and his brother Drusus. Two coins depict the brothers offering the laurels of victory to Augustus who is dressed not as a military man but as a civilian magistrate.</p><p>Denarius of Augustus Lugdunum 15 BC Obv Head right bare headed Rv Augustus togate seated on a curule chair left receiving laurel branches from two soldiers. RIC 165a&nbsp; 3.68 grms 18 mm Photo from CNG <span style="color: #ff0000">THIS IS NOT MY COIN</span>[ATTACH=full]1342423[/ATTACH]&nbsp; </p><p>Two other coins advertise that the success in Raetia was the fruit of previous victories by Augustus in Sicily This coin celebrates his successes there</p><p>Denarius of Augustus Ar Denarius Lugdunum 15 BC Obv Head left Bare headed Rv Diana standing RIC 173b Photo CNG <span style="color: #ff0000">THIS IS NOT MY COIN</span> [ATTACH=full]1342420[/ATTACH]</p><p>&nbsp;and at the Battle of Actium. </p><p>Denarius of Augustus Lugdunum 15 BC Obv. Head right bare Rv. Apollo standing left cradling lyre. RIC 171a 3.88 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen[ATTACH=full]1342417[/ATTACH] This is the issue that celebrates the victory at Actium which effectively put an end to the long nightmare of the Roman Civil Wars and began the Pax Romana. The last coin is the famous &#039;Butting Bull&quot;</p><p>Ar Denarius of Augustus&nbsp;&nbsp; Lugdunum 15 BC Obv Head of Augustus Right Bare headed. Rv Bull butting right. RIC 167a 3.69 grms 18mm Photo by W. Hansen[ATTACH=full]1342419[/ATTACH]This image is the most contentious, however when looking at the message being conveyed by the rest of the issue the meaning becomes more clear. If Tiberius and Drusus owe their success to Augustus, he in turn owes his to Julius Caesar. The Bull was a prominent symbol used by the Legions raised by Caesar for the conquest of Gaul. Thus the bull and the implied reference to Caesar on the obverse (DIVI F) links this coin too the other three.&nbsp; It must be noted that there are numerous varieties within this issue and I have only illustrated four.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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