Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Augustus. Silver Denarius (3.72 g), 27 BC-AD 14. Caesaraugusta (?), ca. 19/8 BC. Head of Augustus right, wreathed with oak-leaves. Reverse CAESAR AVGVSTVS, two laurel branches. RIC 33a; BMC 352; RSC 47. Lovely old cabinet toning with hints of iridescense.A fantastic portrait of great style struck on an exceptionally large flan. Superb Extremely Fine.

When Octavian was awarded the honorary title of Augustus in 27 BC investing him with supreme power, he was also given the right to decorate his door posts with laurel branches, a sign of martial victory, and the corona civica, an oak-wreath symbolizing the saving of a Roman life. In the case of Augustus, the laurel branches signified his victory over Mark Antony and Cleopatra at Actium, and the corona civica was awarded for saving the life of not one citizen but of many thousands when he successfully ending the civil wars. On this coin Augustus is portraying wearing the oak wreath crown - which occurs only occasionally on Roman coins - which by law he was required to do at every public gathering.
Estimated Value $25,000 - 30,000.
Ex Alberto Campana Collection (NAC 64, 17-18 May 2012), 1033; Rauch 82 (23 April 2008), 203.