Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 135 21 Nov 2022
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The Roman Empire. Octavian, 32 – 27.
Aureus circa 29-27 BC, AV 7.80 g. Bare head r. Rev. IMP – CAESAR Victory standing facing on globe, head l., holding wreath and standard. C 113. BMC 622. Bahrfeldt 109. RIC 268. CBN 85. Calicó 205.
Rare. A superb portrait of fine style and an interesting reverse type perfectly centred
on a very large flan. Almost invisible edge marks, otherwise extremely fine
Ex NAC 40, 2007, 627.
Struck in 29-27 B.C. during the last phase of Octavian's pre-Augustan coinage which followed his victory over Mark Antony and Cleopatra at Actium and subsequent conquest of Egypt, this splendid aureus closely copies the silver denarii issues of the year before (cf. CRI 406-8), which present Victory standing on a celestial globe, a symbol of world dominion. However, here Victory holds a vexillum, a military standard with a flag attached to a horizontal bar atop a pole, instead of a palm branch. This particular depiction of Victory has been identified as that which stood upon the apex of the pediment of the Curia Julia, Caesar's new Senate House which he commenced building in 44 B.C. shortly before his assassination and which was not completed until after Actium. The significance of the vexillum is important as, with the state's coffers full with the recently plundered gold from his Egyptian conquests, Octavian was able to pay off some 100,000 of the disbanded veterans and settle them on estates throughout Italy and the provinces. Not only did these retired soldiers provide security for areas that had lacked it previously, they helped to spread Roman culture and ideas, and their settlement also released the state from the onerous burden of maintaining some sixty legions.
Graded AU Strike 5/5 Surface 3/5, NGC certification number 6556714-002
Aureus circa 29-27 BC, AV 7.80 g. Bare head r. Rev. IMP – CAESAR Victory standing facing on globe, head l., holding wreath and standard. C 113. BMC 622. Bahrfeldt 109. RIC 268. CBN 85. Calicó 205.
Rare. A superb portrait of fine style and an interesting reverse type perfectly centred
on a very large flan. Almost invisible edge marks, otherwise extremely fine
Ex NAC 40, 2007, 627.
Struck in 29-27 B.C. during the last phase of Octavian's pre-Augustan coinage which followed his victory over Mark Antony and Cleopatra at Actium and subsequent conquest of Egypt, this splendid aureus closely copies the silver denarii issues of the year before (cf. CRI 406-8), which present Victory standing on a celestial globe, a symbol of world dominion. However, here Victory holds a vexillum, a military standard with a flag attached to a horizontal bar atop a pole, instead of a palm branch. This particular depiction of Victory has been identified as that which stood upon the apex of the pediment of the Curia Julia, Caesar's new Senate House which he commenced building in 44 B.C. shortly before his assassination and which was not completed until after Actium. The significance of the vexillum is important as, with the state's coffers full with the recently plundered gold from his Egyptian conquests, Octavian was able to pay off some 100,000 of the disbanded veterans and settle them on estates throughout Italy and the provinces. Not only did these retired soldiers provide security for areas that had lacked it previously, they helped to spread Roman culture and ideas, and their settlement also released the state from the onerous burden of maintaining some sixty legions.
Graded AU Strike 5/5 Surface 3/5, NGC certification number 6556714-002