AUGUSTUS

Reigned: 27 B.C.-14 A.D.



AVGVSTVS was born Gaius Octavius in September, 63 BC. His father died when he was four, and his grand-uncle Julius Caesar took an interest in him. He became Caesar's heir and adopted son by Caesar's will, read in 44 BC. Through civil wars lasting 13 years he emerged victorious, and gradually assumed dominant civil powers, although he maintained the fiction of being the 'Princeps', or first among equals. He was voted the name 'Augustus' in 27 BC, and dated his rule from 23 BC. He peacefully transformed Rome from a republic to an empire, and died of natural causes on August 19, 14 AD.

 

The Cistophori


Silver Cistophorus (29mm, 11.45gr), Struck 24-20 B.C. in Ephesus

Obv: IMP CAESAR Augustus, his bare head right

Rev: AVGVSTVS Six ears of corn tied together in bundle

RIC 481, Sear 1586     Andrew Thall Collection


Silver Cistophorus (24.5mm, 10.45gr), Struck 27-3 B.C. in Ephesus.

Obv: IMP CAESAR Augustus, his bare head right.

Rev: AVGVSTVS Six corn-ears bound together.

RIC 494, RSC 32b, Sear 1586.     Mark Lehman Collection

 

 

The Denarii


Silver Denarius (20mm, 3.50gr), Struck 19-18 B.C. in Colonia Caesaraugusta.

Obv: CAESAR AVGVSTVS Augustus, his bare head right

Rev: SPQR - CL V in two lines on shield

RIC 42a, RSC 294, BMC 333    Brett Telford Collection

Silver Denarius (19mm, 3.8gr), Struck 19 B.C. in Colonia Patricia

Obv: CAESAR AVGVSTVS  Augustus, his bare head right

Rev: OB CIVES SERVATOS  above and below oak-wreath, within which circular shield inscribed  SPQR CL V

RIC 79a, RSC 215, Sear 1626, BMC 381   Bob Rinaldi Collection



Silver Denarius (18x20mm, 3.61gr), Struck 18 B.C. in Colonia Patricia

Obv: CAESARI AVGVSTO Augustus, his laureate head right

Rev: MAR VLT Domed hexastyle temple of Mars Ultor (the Avenger) containing legionary eagle between two standards

RIC 105a, RSC 190, Sear 1623, BMC 373   Brett Telford Collection

Silver Denarius (20.4mm, 3.58gr), Struck 18-16 B.C. in Colonia Patricia

Obv: No legend, Augustus, his bare head right

Rev: AVGVSTVS Capricorn left holding globe attached to rudder. Cornucopia above.

RIC 128, RSC 25, BMC 345    Tom Mullally Collection



Silver Denarius (18.82mm, 3.26gr) Struck 15-13 B.C. in Lugdunum.

Obv: AVGVSTVS DIVI F Augustus, his bare head right

Rev: IMP X Bull butting right

RIC 167a, RSC 137, Sear 1610   Jan de Veen Collection


Silver Denarius (18mm), Struck 2 B.C.-4 A.D. in Lugdunum

Obv: CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F. PATER PATRIAE Augustus, his laureate head right

Rev: AVGVSTI F COS. DESIG. PRINC.IVVENT Caius and Lucius Caesars standing facing, each holding shield and spear, lituus on right and simplum on left above C L CAESARES in exergue

RIC 207, RSC 43, BMC 533      Harry Stewart Collection

Silver Denarius (18.8mm, 3.79gr), Struck 2 B.C.-4 A.D. in Lugdunum

Obv: CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE Augustus, his laureate head right

Rev: AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT Gaius and Lucius standing facing, each holding shield and spear, simpulum on right and  lituus on left above. CL CAESARES in exergue

RIC 210, RSC 43c, BMC 540, Sear 1597     Tom Mullally Collection


Silver Denarius (18mm), Struck 32-29 B.C. in Rome or Brundisium (uncertain)

Obv: No legend. Draped bust of Pax right, cornucopia in left field, branch in right field, banker's marks

Rev: CAESAR DIVI F Octavian in armor, walking right, raising right hand, holding spear over his left shoulder

RIC 253, RSC 72, Sear 1549, BMC 612     Harry Stewart Collection


Silver Denarius (20mm, 3.56gr), Struck 42 BC, unknown Italian mint

Obv: C CAESAR III VIR R PC Augustus, his bare head right

Rev: CAESAR DIC PER Curule chair of Caesar surmounted by wreath and inscribed.

RSC 55, Sear 1536, BMC 76      Tom Mullally Collection


Silver Denarius (19.2mm, 3.60gr), Struck 30-29 BC, possiby in Rome

Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right

Rev: IMP CAESAR Octavian plowing right, with yoke of oxen, holding whip in left hand.

RIC 272, RSC 117, Sear 1560, BMC 638     Tom Mullally Collection

Silver Denarius (19mm, 3.44gr), Struck 19 B.C. in Rome

Obv: Q RUSTIAS FORTVNAE ANTIAT Conjoined busts of Fortunae Victrix and Felix right on bar wth rams-head finials.

Rev: CAESAR AVGVSTO EX SC / FOR RE Elaborate altar inscribed: FOR RE (Fortuna Redux)

RIC 322, RSC 513, Sear 1605      Mark Lehman Collection

 

The Sestertii

Orichalcum Sestertius (30.5mm, 13.47gr), Struck 38 B.C. in Italy

Obv: DIVI F Bare head of Octavian (Augustus) right, star (sidus Julium) below chin.

Rev: DIVOS / IVLIVS in two lines within laurel wreath.

Cohen 95, Sear 1570, CRR 1336, RRC 535/2     Mark Lehman Collection

The Asses

Copper As (28 mm, 10.90 gr), Struck 25-23 B.C. in Emerita Augusta

Obv: CAESAR AVG TRIB POTEST Augustus, his bare head right

Rev: P CARISIVS - LEG - AVGVSTI in three lines

RIC 15a, BMC 298 Brett Telford Collection

Copper As (27mm, 12.83gr), Struck 9-3 B.C. in Nemausus

Obv: Addorsed heads of Agrippa on left, wearing combined rostral crown and laurel wreath, and Augustus on right, wearing oak wreath, IMP above and DIVI F below

Rev: Crocodile chained to palm tip, wreath in upper left and COL - NEM above

RIC 158, Sear 1730, RPC 524     Ex Brett Telford Collection

 


Copper As (26mm, 10.74gr), Struck after 10 B.C. in Lugdunum

Obv: CAESAR PONT MAX Augustus, his laureate head right.

Rev: ROM ET AVG Grand altar of Lugdunum with many decorations.

RIC 230, Sear 1690, Van Meter 93      Mark Lehman Collection


Copper As (28x24mm, 8.31gr), Struck 15 B.C. in Rome

Obv: CAESAR AVGVSTVS Augustus, his bare head right.

Rev: Inscription: C PLOTIVS RVFVS III VIR AAA FF around large SC

RIC 389, Sear 1680, Van Meter 99d.      Mark Lehman Collection



Copper As (26mm), Struck 7 B.C. in Rome

Obv: CAESAR AVGVST PONT MAX TRIBVNIC POT Augustus, his bare head right

Rev M SALVIVS OTHO III VIR AAAFF around S-C

RIC 431, Sear 1672,  Van Meter 100b  Brett Telford Collection



Copper As (28mm, 10.82gr), Struck 7 B.C. in Rome

Obv: CAESAR AVGVST PONT MAX TRIBVNIC POT Augustus, his bare head right.

Rev: Inscription: M MACELLVS TVLLVS III VIR AAA FF around large S-C

RIC 435, Sear 1684, Van Meter 100c      Mark Lehman Collection


Copper As (28.5mm, 10.08gr), Struck 11-12 A.D. in Rome.

Obv: IMP CAESAR DIVI F AVGVSTVS IMP XX Augustus, his radiate head left.

Rev: PONTIF MAXIM TRIBVN POT XXXIIII around large S-C

RIC 471, Sear 1689, Van Meter 92      Mark Lehman Collection

Copper As (26mm, 11.83gr), Struck 25 B.C. in Ephesus

Obv: CAESAR Augustus, his bare head right

Rev: AVGVSTVS in one line in laurel-wreath (corona civica) 

RIC 486, BMC 731 Brett Telford Collection

The Fractions


Copper Quadrans (17.9mm, 3.03gr), Struck 9 B.C. in Rome

Obv: III VIR A A A F F S C Legend around SC

Rev: LAMIA SILIVS ANNIVS Clasped hands around cornucopiae.

RIC 420, BMC 200, Sear 1693   Tom Mullally Collection

Copper Quadrans 16mm (2.91gr) Struck 9 B.C. Rome mint

Obv: LAMIA SILIVS ANNIVS S - C with cornucopiae between

Rev: III VIR AAA FF Garlanded altar

RIC 422, Sear 1695, Van Meter 123     Mark Lehman Collection


Copper Quadrans 17mm (2.87gm) 9 BC Rome

Obv: PVLCHER TAVRVS REGVLVS Legend around cornucopiae.

Rev: III VIR A A A F F S C Inscription around garlanded altar

RIC 425, Sear 1698, BMC 207    Tom Mullally Collection



Copper Quadrans 15.9mm (3.15gm) Struck 27 B.C.-14 A.D. Rome

Obv: P BETILIENVS BASSVS Legend around SC.

Rev: III VIR A A A F F Legend around altar.

RIC 465, Sear 1703     Tom Mullally Collection



Orichalcum Semis (24 mm, 3.78 gr), Struck 10-14 A.D. in Lugdunum.

Obv: CAESAR PONT MAX Augustus, his laureate head right

Rev: ROM ET AVG Grand altar of Lugdunum with many decorations.

RIC 229, Sear 1692, Van Meter 95      Mark Lehman Collection

Posthumous Issues

Orichalcum Dupondius (15.27gr), Struck 37-41A.D. under Caligula in Rome.

Obv: DIVVS AVGVSTVS S C Augustus, his bare head right

Rev: CONSENSV SENAT ET EQ ORDIN P Q R Caligula or Augustus seated left on curule chair and holding branch.

RIC 56 (Caligula), Sear 1811, Van Meter 161 Mark Lehman Collection

Bronze As (28mm, 10.90gr), Struck 22-33 A.D. under Tiberius in Rome.

Obv: DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATER Augustu, his radiate head left

Rev: S-C to left and right of altar-enclosure with double panelled door; uncertain ornaments on top; PROVIDENT below

RIC 81 (Tiberius), Cohen 228, BMC 146 Brett Telford Collection

Bronze As (29mm, 10.60gr), Struck 22-33 A.D. under Tiberius in Rome.

Obv: DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATER Augustu, his radiate head left

Rev: S-C to left and right of altar-enclosure with double panelled door; uncertain ornaments on top; PROVIDENT below

RIC 81 (Tiberius), Cohen 228, BMC 146 Glenn Aitelli Collection


Restoration Issues


Orichalcum Dupondius (27 mm, 10.14 gr), Struck 80 A.D. under Titus in Rome.

Obv: DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATER Augustus, his radiate head left

Rev: IMP T VESP AVG REST - S C Victory alighting left holding shield inscribed SPQR.

RIC 189 (Titus), Sear 2580.      Mark Lehman Collection

 

Copper As (26mm, 9.3gr), Stuck 80 A.D. under Titus in Rome.

Obv: DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATER Radiate head left, star above

Rev: IMP T CAES AVG RESTITVIT Eagle on globe, head to right, S-C above

RIC 198, Sear 2584     Brett Telford Collection

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