Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction X 27 September 2015
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Augustus AR Denarius. Spanish mint (Colonia Patricia?), circa 19 BC. CAESAR AVGVSTVS, bare head right / Round shield inscribed CL•V, aquila and signum flanking, SIGNIS above, RECEPTIS below, S P Q R around. RIC 86a; RSC 265; BMC 418. 3.77g, 19mm, 6h.
Good Extremely Fine. Lustrous.
Ex Stack's (Saint Ludovico and Firth of Clyde Collections), 22 April 2009, lot 1370.
The Parthian kingdom had been a threat to Rome's eastern frontier for several decades before Augustus had become emperor, and in 53 BC three legionary eagles had been captured at the Battle of Carrhae, where the Romans suffered a crushing defeat under the command of Crassus. The loss of the legionary eagles was a source of great shame for Rome, but they were regained by Augustus following the success of his diplomacy with the Parthian king and this is celebrated on the reverse type.
The clipeus votivus, or votive shield, was an ancient custom, and in his Aeneid Virgil relates that Aeneas dedicated a shield to Apollo Actius (V. 235). Given the Aeneid's prevalence as a propagandistic tale of Rome's founding, it is difficult to deny a connection between the importance of Actium to both Aeneas and Augustus and well as the reference to Augustus' supposed line of descent from Aeneas, via his adoption by Julius Caesar.
Good Extremely Fine. Lustrous.
Ex Stack's (Saint Ludovico and Firth of Clyde Collections), 22 April 2009, lot 1370.
The Parthian kingdom had been a threat to Rome's eastern frontier for several decades before Augustus had become emperor, and in 53 BC three legionary eagles had been captured at the Battle of Carrhae, where the Romans suffered a crushing defeat under the command of Crassus. The loss of the legionary eagles was a source of great shame for Rome, but they were regained by Augustus following the success of his diplomacy with the Parthian king and this is celebrated on the reverse type.
The clipeus votivus, or votive shield, was an ancient custom, and in his Aeneid Virgil relates that Aeneas dedicated a shield to Apollo Actius (V. 235). Given the Aeneid's prevalence as a propagandistic tale of Rome's founding, it is difficult to deny a connection between the importance of Actium to both Aeneas and Augustus and well as the reference to Augustus' supposed line of descent from Aeneas, via his adoption by Julius Caesar.