Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Octavian. Silver Denarius (3.9 g), 30 BC. Uncertain Italian mint (Rome?). Victory standing right on prow, holding wreath and palm. Reverse IMP CAESAR in exergue, Emperor, holding branch and reins, driving triumphal quadriga right. RIC 264; HCRI 416; BMC 617; RSC 115. Boldly struck on a full flan and well centered. Lovely old cabinet toning. Superb Extremely Fine.

Sear states that this is probably the first type of the IMP CAESAR series, having replaced an identical type with the legend CAESAR DIVI F. While the obverse type certainly harkens back to Actium, the reverse commemorates Octavian's entry into Alexandria, where he immediately seized the Ptolemaic treasury. This coin, in fact, was likely struck from the first batch of Ptolemaic silver received in Rome.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500.
Ex The Bru Sale 3 (6 May 2011), 74; Tradart (12 December 1991), 242; Bank Leu 20 (25-26 April 1978), 197.