Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 86 8 October 2015
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The Roman Empire
Armenia Capta Issues
L. Cornelius Lentulus. Denarius circa 12 BC, AR 3.76 g. AVGVSTVS Bare head r. Rev. L LENTVLVS FLAMEN / MARTIALIS Augustus (?) standing facing, resting hand on shield inscribed CV and placing star on the head of figure (Julius Caesar ?) standing facing and holding Victoriola and spear. C 419. BMC 124. RIC 415. CBN 555.
Very rare. Struck on a very broad flan and complete with a lovely light iridescent tone.
A hairline flan crack at five o'clock on obverse, otherwise extremely fine
Privately purchased from Harlan J Berk.
The reverse type here has Augustus placing a star on a second figure (or statue) which has been identified as either Julius Caesar (RIC) or Agrippa (BMCRE). It is telling that the shield, inscribed CV, is beside Augustus. This could relate to Augustus himself and the award of the golden shield much earlier. It may also relate to Agrippa being granted the proconsular powers for a period of five years, however this happened in either 23 or 22 BC.