Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Augustus, with Divus Julius Caesar. Silver Denarius (3.9 g), 27 BC-AD 14. Rome, 17 BC. M. Sanquinius, moneyer. AVGVSTVS DIVI F, bare head of Augustus right. Reverse M SANQVI-NIVS III VIR, laureate, youthful head of deified Julius Caesar right; above, comet with tail. RIC 338; BMC 71; RSC 1. Well struck and perfectly centered. Lovely old cabinet toning with lighter iridescense. Very rare and seldom seen this choice. Extremely Fine.

In 17 BC a comet appeared in the heavens and was taken by the Romans to be the reappearance of the soul of Julius Caesar. With this auspicious appearance, Augustus and Agrippa assumed leadership of the Xvviri sacris faciundis, the college of priests in charge of festivals, and organized celebrations inaugurating a new age. As part of the celebrations, Augustus commissioned the poet Horace to write a secular hymn, the Carmen Saeculare, which was sung by twenty-seven maidens and an equal number of youths on the occasion of the Ludi Saeculares.
Estimated Value $6,000 - 7,000.
Ex The Bru Sale 2 (18 November 2010), 74; Bank Leu 20 (25-26 April 1978), 210.