Watch List notes:

The Roman Empire
Dynastic Issues of Augustus

Sestertius, Lugdunum circa 9-14 AD, Æ 26.20 g. CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE Laureate head r. Rev. Front elevation of altar of Lugdunum: enclosure with panels decorated with corona civica flanked by figures holding laurel branches; decoration along roofline; altar flanked by columns surmounted by statues of Victory standing vis-à-vis, each holding palm frond in left hand over left shoulder and wreath in right hand; below, ROM ET AVG. C 236. BMC 565. RIC 231a. CBN 1695. Giard Lyon 95 (D453/R–).
Very rare and among the finest specimens known of this difficult issue. A bold portrait
and an unusually detailed reverse composition, brown tone and good very fine

Ex Triton sale XVII, 2014, 630.

This is such a tough issue to find nice and complete. Here the reverse legend in the exergue is incomplete but all other design elements are there and sharply defined. This is one of the nicest pieces for this issue that you can find. Simply a wonderful portrait of Augustus in high grade. MSG.

The altar of Lugdunum is known from several ancient sources including Dio and Livy. It is best described in Strabo's "Geography" where he states "Lugdunum itself, then, (a city founded at the foot of a hill at the confluence of the River Arar and the Rhodanus), is occupied by the Romans. And it is the most populous of all the cities of Celtica except Narbo; for not only do people use it as an emporium, but the Roman governors coin their money there, both the silver and the gold. Again, the temple that was dedicated to Caesar Augustus by all the Galatae in common is situated in front of this city at the junction of the rivers. And in it is a noteworthy altar, bearing an inscription of the names of the tribes, sixty in number; and also images from these tribes, one from each tribe, and also another large altar." We also obviously know this altar from the extensive series of coinage dedicated to it.

We know that the altar was proposed in 15 BC during a time when Augustus was in Lugdunum and had established the city as an official Roman mint. An early series of coins of this type were minted at that time and, like the Temple of Mars Ultor described above, the altar depicted must have been the planned design. In 10 BC the completed structure was formally dedicated by Nero Claudius Drusus, step-son of Augustus and father of the future emperor Claudius.

It was against Roman custom to worship the standing emperor and the practice was technically forbidden in Rome itself. In the provinces local customs had long held that the ruler should be worshiped and this practice continued well into Roman times. This may have even been encouraged so as to promote loyalty to the current ruler. Temples and altars of this type are known from all over the empire and, in almost every case, they are known to have the legend ROM ET AVG (or some variation identifying the current emperor). It is noteworthy that Rome was worshiped first, the emperor second. This seems convenient today given the unstable nature of the principate.

A second set of bronzes with this reverse type was initiated in the names of Augustus and Tiberius (who had by this time been designated as Augustus' successor) after the dedication. The series is complete with sestertii; dupondii; Asses; and semises. The sestertii are almost always found heavily circulated and quite worn. High grade survivors are quite rare for Augustus and almost never seen for Tiberius. MSG.