Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 125 23-24 Jun 2021
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Octavian as Augustus, 27 BC – AD 14.
Cossus Cornelius Lentulus. Denarius 12 BC, AR 4.09 g. AVGVSTVS – COS XI Oak-wreathed head of Augustus r. Rev. M AGRIPPA – COS TER / COSSVS LENTVLVS Head of Agrippa r., wearing combined mural and rostral crown. C Agrippa and Augustus 1. BMC 121. RIC 414. CBN 550.
Very rare and undoubtedly the finest specimen known of this important issue.
Two portraits of enchanting beauty perfectly struck and a superb old
cabinet tone. Good extremely fine
Ex Glendining's 20 November 1969, 77; NAC 18, 2000, 403 and Aureo & Calicò 339, 2019, Alba Longa, 1376 sales.
Of all the coinages honouring Agrippa, this denarius is perhaps the most interesting, not only because it represents what Augustus hoped would be his final dynastic settlement, but because Agrippa wears a composite crown with towered embattlements and ship's prows to commemorate his many victories at land and at sea. Indeed, when this denarius was issued in 12 B.C., the aspirations of Marcus Agrippa appeared limitless: he was a proven, loyal friend to Augustus, was husband to the emperor's only child, and was the father of the emperor's two grandsons. The joint renewal of the tribunician power for Augustus and Agrippa – the basis for this 'dynastic' coinage – was not awarded lightly, as it announced to all that Augustus' heir was none other than Agrippa. Yet in the following year, the man whose skills in war had been the bedrock of Augustus' political success, was dead. Once again Augustus had no suitable heir. Tiberius was his obvious replacement, but Augustus' personal disregard for his stepson, and his desire to keep Augustan blood flowing in the future emperors of Rome, caused him instead to place his hopes in his grandsons Gaius and Lucius, neither of whom had reached manhood when their father died. Before too long both Gaius and Lucius were dead, and a third grandson, Agrippa Postumus, born to Julia soon after his father died, proved so unbearable that Augustus eventually banished him. As Augustus' life neared its end he reluctantly made Tiberius his heir on the secret proviso that he would not preserve the throne for his own son Drusus, but for Germanicus, who had some Augustan blood in his veins and whose wife, Agrippina Senior, was one of Augustus' granddaughters
Cossus Cornelius Lentulus. Denarius 12 BC, AR 4.09 g. AVGVSTVS – COS XI Oak-wreathed head of Augustus r. Rev. M AGRIPPA – COS TER / COSSVS LENTVLVS Head of Agrippa r., wearing combined mural and rostral crown. C Agrippa and Augustus 1. BMC 121. RIC 414. CBN 550.
Very rare and undoubtedly the finest specimen known of this important issue.
Two portraits of enchanting beauty perfectly struck and a superb old
cabinet tone. Good extremely fine
Ex Glendining's 20 November 1969, 77; NAC 18, 2000, 403 and Aureo & Calicò 339, 2019, Alba Longa, 1376 sales.
Of all the coinages honouring Agrippa, this denarius is perhaps the most interesting, not only because it represents what Augustus hoped would be his final dynastic settlement, but because Agrippa wears a composite crown with towered embattlements and ship's prows to commemorate his many victories at land and at sea. Indeed, when this denarius was issued in 12 B.C., the aspirations of Marcus Agrippa appeared limitless: he was a proven, loyal friend to Augustus, was husband to the emperor's only child, and was the father of the emperor's two grandsons. The joint renewal of the tribunician power for Augustus and Agrippa – the basis for this 'dynastic' coinage – was not awarded lightly, as it announced to all that Augustus' heir was none other than Agrippa. Yet in the following year, the man whose skills in war had been the bedrock of Augustus' political success, was dead. Once again Augustus had no suitable heir. Tiberius was his obvious replacement, but Augustus' personal disregard for his stepson, and his desire to keep Augustan blood flowing in the future emperors of Rome, caused him instead to place his hopes in his grandsons Gaius and Lucius, neither of whom had reached manhood when their father died. Before too long both Gaius and Lucius were dead, and a third grandson, Agrippa Postumus, born to Julia soon after his father died, proved so unbearable that Augustus eventually banished him. As Augustus' life neared its end he reluctantly made Tiberius his heir on the secret proviso that he would not preserve the throne for his own son Drusus, but for Germanicus, who had some Augustan blood in his veins and whose wife, Agrippina Senior, was one of Augustus' granddaughters