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Roman Imperial: Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD)
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Weight 3.800g, maximum diameter 19.0mm, die axis 180o, 18 BC.
Obverse: CAESARI AVGVSTO, laureate head right.
Reverse: MAR - VLT, domed hexastyle temple of Mars Ultor, containing aquila between two signa militaria.
Grade: EF, Beautiful coin, glossy even gray tone.
References: SRCV I 1623; RIC I, 105a; BMCRE I 373; BMCRR Rome 4419-4420; CBN 1202; RSC 190.
Augustus built the temple of Mars the Avenger on the Capitol to house the recovered legionary eagles, which had been lost by Crassus and Antony to the Parthians.
Silver denarius, Lugdunum mint.
Weight 3.938g, maximum diameter 20.8mm, die axis 135o, 15 B.C.
Obverse: AVGVSTVS DIVI•F, bare head right.
Reverse: IMP•X, bull butting right; superb high-relief portrait, toned.
References: RIC I, 167a; BMCRE I 451; RSC I 137; BN 1373 ff.
Grade: Choice EF.
LYONS Mint
Weight 3.490grams
Obverse Inscription: CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F. PATER PATRIAE
Obverse Description: Laureate head of Augustus to right
Reverse Inscription: C. L. CAESARES AVGVSTI F. COS. DESIG. PRINC. IVVENT
Reverse Description: Caius & Lucius Caesars standing facing, shields and spears between them, simpulum & lituus above.
References: S 1597; RIC I, 207; BMC 533.
Grade: In Very Fine Condition
Obverse: AVGVSTVS DIVI • F - Bare head right.
Reverse: IMP XII across field - Apollo Citharoedus of Actium, wearing long drapery, standing facing, head left, holding plectrum in right hand and lyre in left.
Possibly Apollo Actius hence the ACT in Exergue.
Exergue: ACT
Lugdunum Mint 11-10 BC (Lyon, France). (Strabo wrote, "The Romans possess Lugdunum, founded below a ridge at the confluence of the Arar and the Rhone. It is the most populous of all the other cities except Narbo; for it is a centre of commerce, and the Roman emperors strike their silver and gold coinage there.")
References: RIC I 180; Lyon 37; RSC 165; BMCRE 478-9 = BMCRR Gaul 194-5; BN 1418-9.
Weight: 3.71 gms.
Hispania Baetica (Colonia Patricia or Cordoba or Caesaraugusta), ca. 18-16 B.C.
Caesaraugusta is Zaragoza, also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza province and of the autonomous community and former Kingdom of Aragon, Spain.
Obverse: Bare head right, no legend.
Reverse: Capricorn (Augustus' birth sign) right holding globe attached to rudder; cornucopiae above its back. AVGVSTVS below.
18mm, 3.73gms.
References: RIC I, 126; BMC 346; RSC 21, Sears (1) 1592. BM-347 p l. 7.3 (same obverse die), Paris-1267 p l. L (same obverse die), C-21 (6 Fr.), RIC-126.
Grade: Very Fine
Silver denarius.
Weight 3.649gms, 18.9mm, 270o.
Lugdunum mint,
Obverse: AVGVSTVS DIVI` F, laureate head right.
Reverse: C` CAESAR, Caius Caesar galloping right on horseback, holding sword and shield, legionary eagle and two standards behind.
Exergue: AVGVS` F.
References: RIC I 199; BMCRE I 500; RSC I 40.
Grade: EF, Toned.
The brothers Caius (the eldest, pictured on this coin) and Lucius were the sons of Agrippa and Julia, daughter of Augustus. They were due to succeed Augustus but predeceased him in 4 and 2 A.D. respectively.
Augustus AR denarius minted in Spain, probably Colonia Patricia mint (RIC) or Caesaraugusta mint, between 20 - 19 B.C.
Obverse: Nice laureate head of Augustus right, no legend.
Reverse: Two laurel branches CAESAR above, AVGVSTVS below.
References: RIC I, 51; BMC352.
Weight: 3.67 grammes;
19 mm. diameter.
3.85 gm, 20mm.
Spanish mint - Tarraco.
Struck circa 18 BC.
Obverse: CAESAR AVGVSTVS, laureate head right.
Reverse: DIVVS • IVLIV(S) across field, comet with eight rays and tail upwards.
References: RIC I 102; RSC 98; BMCRE 357.
DIVVS • IVLIVS = Divine Julius
On 1 January 42 BC, the Senate recognized Julius Caesar as a divinity of the Roman state, Divus Iulius. Octavian was thus able to further his cause by emphasizing the fact that he was Divi Filius, "Son of God".
3.85 gm, 19mm.
Mint - Rome.
Struck circa 12 BC.
Obverse: AVGVSTVS Bare head to right.
Reverse: L CANINIVS – GALLVS III VIR. Long haired Barbarian, bearded and cloaked, kneeling to right; offering vexillum (standard) in right hand.
References: RIC I, 416; BMC 127; C 383.
Attractive old toning, good very fine.
Ephesus mint.
Obverse: IMP • CAESAR • DIVI F • COS.VI • LIBERTATIS • P • R • VINDEX. Laureate head right.
Reverse: Pax standing l. holding caduceus, snake emerging from cista on r., PAX to l., all in laurel wreath.
27mm, 11.8g, 1' Die Axis.
References: RIC I, 476; RSC 218; RPC 2203.
RSC notes: This coin commemorates the general peace that was proclaimed on the return to Rome in 29 BC.
Grade: Good very fine.
Ephesus mint.
Obverse: IMP • CAE - SAR Bare head right.
Reverse: AVGVSTVS - Capricorn right, head reverted, holding large cornucopiae, all within laurel wreath.
25mm x 26mm, 11.89g, 1' Die Axis.
References: RIC I, 480; BMC I, 696; CBN I, 916; RPC I, 2213; RSC I, 16; Sutherland Group VI, 239 (O33/R43 - this coin illustrated).
Ex Mark Drazak Collection; Ex William Joy Collection; Ex Lempertz, Lot 960, February 23, 1939.
Grade: EF with nice cabinet toning.
Sutherland: "The Cistophori of Augustus" plate coin.
Ephesus mint.
Struck 25-20 BC.
27mm, 11.41 g, 12h.
Obverse: IMP • CAE - SAR Bare head right.
Reverse: AVGV - STVS to left and right of six grain ears tied in a bundle.
References: RIC I, 481; Sutherland group VIb; RPC 2214; RSC 32b.
Grade: VF, some porosity.
25mm, 11.85 g, 12h.
Ephesus mint. Struck 25-20 BC.
Obverse Inscription: IMP • CAE - SAR
Obverse Description: Bare head of Augustus right.
Reverse Inscription: AVGVSTVS
Reverse Description: Garlanded altar of Diana (Artemis) decorated with fillets, garlands, and stags standing vis-à-vis. Actually bas-relief of two confronted hinds.
References: RIC I, 482; Sutherland Group VI?, 365 (O123/R21); RSC 33; RPC 2215; BMCRE 694; BN 922-926, Sear Vol 1 1587
Grade: VF, toned.