Nomos AG
obolos 4 21 February 2016
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Augustus, 27 BC-AD 14. Denarius (Silver, 18mm, 3.77 g 7), Colonia Patricia, 19 BC. CAESAR AVGVSTVS Bare head of Augustus to right. Rev. SIGNIS RECEPTIS Aquila on left and standard on right flanking S - P / Q - R arranged around shield inscribed CL V. BMC 417. BN 1132. Cohen 19. RIC 86a. An attractive example. Banker's marks on obverse, otherwise, very fine.
The CL V on the reverse of this issue represents the clipeus virtutis, which was - according to the Res Gestae Divi Augusti, the funerary inscription written by the first Roman emperor Augustus - a golden shield displaying in the Curia Iulia given to Augustus by the Senate and Roman people (Senatus PopulusQue Romanus) in commemoration of his virtue, piety, justice and clemency. Even though it seems to be obvious, Augustus awarded the shield right after he achieved absolute power and declared the restoration of the Republic, Sydenham suggests "that there is no decisive evidence as to the exact date at which the golden shield was conferred, but the coins on which it is represented are of later date than the year BC 27". The return of the Roman standards captured by the Parthians in earlier conflicts in 19 BC offered an excellent opportunity to once again recall Augustus' pietas, one of the virtues recorded on the clipeus.
The CL V on the reverse of this issue represents the clipeus virtutis, which was - according to the Res Gestae Divi Augusti, the funerary inscription written by the first Roman emperor Augustus - a golden shield displaying in the Curia Iulia given to Augustus by the Senate and Roman people (Senatus PopulusQue Romanus) in commemoration of his virtue, piety, justice and clemency. Even though it seems to be obvious, Augustus awarded the shield right after he achieved absolute power and declared the restoration of the Republic, Sydenham suggests "that there is no decisive evidence as to the exact date at which the golden shield was conferred, but the coins on which it is represented are of later date than the year BC 27". The return of the Roman standards captured by the Parthians in earlier conflicts in 19 BC offered an excellent opportunity to once again recall Augustus' pietas, one of the virtues recorded on the clipeus.