Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Augustus. Silver Denarius (3.87 g), 27 BC-AD 14. Uncertain mint in the East, ca. 27 BC or a little later. Laureate head of Augustus right. Reverse AVGVSTVS, capricorn right, cornucopiae on its back, holding rudder and globe. RIC 541 (same obv. die); BMC 664 (same obv. die); RSC 23a. A superb portrait struck in high relief. Lightly toned. Extremely Fine.

Although there is a problem of chronology that has not been clearly sorted, Augustus advertised his birth sign as Capricorn. The capricorn was a half terrestrial, half marine being, and played a prominent role in Augustan propaganda, seen on several coin types as well as in other media. Here the capricorn with globe seems to signify Augustus' power over land and sea. The rudder and cornucopiae are terrestrial attributes of the goddess Bona Fortuna, reminding us of Augustus' role in bringing peace and good fortune to the Empire after the devastating civil wars of the 40s and 30s BC.

For an enlightening discussion of Augustus' horoscope and it's use in imperial propaganda, see T. Barton, "Augustus and Capricorn: Astrological Polyvalency and Imperial Rhetoric," JRS 85, 1995, pp. 31-51.
Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.
Ex NAC 40 (16 May 2007), 629.