Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XX 29-30 Oct 2020
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Octavian AR Denarius. Brundisium or Rome (?), circa 29-27 BC. CAESAR COS•VI, bare head to right; lituus behind / Crocodile standing to right; AEGVPTO above, CAPTA below. RIC 275a; CRI 430; BMCRE 650; RSC 2; BN 905 (Ephesus). 3.71g, 20mm, 12h.
Extremely Fine. Rare; struck on a very broad flan and in uncommonly fine condition for the issue.
From the Long Valley River Collection;
Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 366, 25 October 2000, lot 1268;
Ex Bank Leu AG, Auction 48, 10 May 1989, lot 308.
Bearing the Nile crocodile as the sole element of the reverse design, and with the simple legend conveying a succinct message, this coin proudly announces Octavian's annexation of Egypt to the Empire. After the Battle of Actium Octavian invaded Egypt and on 1 August 30 BC his legions defeated the remnants of Marc Antony and Cleopatra's armies at Alexandria. Antony committed suicide in the Roman fashion by falling on his sword and dying in Cleopatra's arms, who took her own life soon after, reputedly by the venomous bite of a snake. Thus by the death of his former colleague and the last of the Ptolemies did Octavian at once assure his ultimate supremacy, and guarantee his own near-limitless power through the vast wealth of Egypt and the critically important grain supply that could be harnessed for the benefit of Rome. The Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, the last of the great Hellenistic kingdoms, had been reduced to the status of a Roman fiefdom, privately owned by Octavian and subsequently held as the 'crown domain' by following emperors, administered by a Praefectus augustalis of equestrian rank, appointed directly by the emperor, entirely bypassing the Senate and the traditional senatorial governorships of other Roman provinces.
This reverse type was later re-employed on the bronzes of Nemausus in Gaul, though with considerably less subtlety, on which the crocodile was now collared around the neck and chained to a palm tree in clear reference to the subjugation of Egypt, thus obliquely referring also to Antony and Cleopatra, while the wreath above with ties fluttering in the breeze is a reminder that the war was both just and necessary; he victory having brought about the deliverance and salvation of the Roman people and the state.
While this type utilizes a lituus on the obverse as an adjunct symbol in reference to Octavian's membership of the priestly College of Augurs, those struck in the East bear the Zodiac sign of the Capricorn under the bust truncation. Appropriately for this reverse type, in ancient mythology the origins of the Capricorn could be found in Egypt.
Extremely Fine. Rare; struck on a very broad flan and in uncommonly fine condition for the issue.
From the Long Valley River Collection;
Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 366, 25 October 2000, lot 1268;
Ex Bank Leu AG, Auction 48, 10 May 1989, lot 308.
Bearing the Nile crocodile as the sole element of the reverse design, and with the simple legend conveying a succinct message, this coin proudly announces Octavian's annexation of Egypt to the Empire. After the Battle of Actium Octavian invaded Egypt and on 1 August 30 BC his legions defeated the remnants of Marc Antony and Cleopatra's armies at Alexandria. Antony committed suicide in the Roman fashion by falling on his sword and dying in Cleopatra's arms, who took her own life soon after, reputedly by the venomous bite of a snake. Thus by the death of his former colleague and the last of the Ptolemies did Octavian at once assure his ultimate supremacy, and guarantee his own near-limitless power through the vast wealth of Egypt and the critically important grain supply that could be harnessed for the benefit of Rome. The Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, the last of the great Hellenistic kingdoms, had been reduced to the status of a Roman fiefdom, privately owned by Octavian and subsequently held as the 'crown domain' by following emperors, administered by a Praefectus augustalis of equestrian rank, appointed directly by the emperor, entirely bypassing the Senate and the traditional senatorial governorships of other Roman provinces.
This reverse type was later re-employed on the bronzes of Nemausus in Gaul, though with considerably less subtlety, on which the crocodile was now collared around the neck and chained to a palm tree in clear reference to the subjugation of Egypt, thus obliquely referring also to Antony and Cleopatra, while the wreath above with ties fluttering in the breeze is a reminder that the war was both just and necessary; he victory having brought about the deliverance and salvation of the Roman people and the state.
While this type utilizes a lituus on the obverse as an adjunct symbol in reference to Octavian's membership of the priestly College of Augurs, those struck in the East bear the Zodiac sign of the Capricorn under the bust truncation. Appropriately for this reverse type, in ancient mythology the origins of the Capricorn could be found in Egypt.