Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XXVII 22-23 Mar 2023
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Augustus AR Denarius. Spanish (Tarraco?) mint, 17-16 BC. S • P • Q • R • CAESARI AVGVSTO, bare head to left / QVOD • VIAE • MVN • SVNT •, double triumphal arch set atop viaduct, ornamented with rostra and surmounted by Augustus, holding branch in right hand, crowned by Victory, who stands behind him, driving quadriga of horses to right. RIC I 145; BMCRE 434 = BMCRR Rome 4464; BN 1253-4; RSC 231. 3.84g, 20mm, 5h.
Near Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone. Extremely Rare; one of only four examples offered at auction in the past two decades, of which this is arguably the finest.
Ex Lifchuz Collection, Áureo & Calicó, Auction 353, 21 October 2020, lot 197.
After his defeat of Marc Antony at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, Octavian, who later became Augustus, secured his political position at Rome and this decisive victory enabled him to pursue his ambitions of sole rule and reform of the Republican system of government. Following the years of unrest caused by civil war, Augustus was determined to repair the damage done to the Empire, both political and physical, and amongst other major ventures he embarked on a project to improve the quality and reach of its roads in an effort to strengthen trade networks and increase mobility.
This endeavour is referenced in the reverse legend of this coin which reads QVOD • VIAE • MVN • SVNT, communicating that the roads had been paved. This coin can therefore be seen to celebrate the finished and repaired roads that ameliorated the efficiency of the military and the ease of transportation of goods and people, something which became of increasing importance as the Empire's population continued to expand. Indeed, the benefits provided by the better road infrastructure were felt by tradespeople, the military and the wider populace alike, allowing all to travel longer distances quicker even when encumbered by equipment or goods.
The restoration of the roads was assigned to wealthy senators to manage and finance for the most part, however the strategically significant Via Flaminia was managed by Augustus personally. This was arguably one of the most vital roads on the Italian peninsula, linking Rome to Ariminum (modern-day Rimini), an important trade centre with strong existing trade links by sea and river and now land, thanks to the vast expense of Augustus' restorations. To mark the completion of his work on the road, Augustus constructed a triumphal arch at each end, monuments that are perhaps alluded to in the iconography on the reverse of this coin. Although it is not possible to attribute the arch depicted on this coin to a specific known structure, particularly since the arch at Ariminum, (which survives to this day) had only one aperture, it seems likely that this is an allegorical reference to the 'triumph' of finishing the road-building project.
Near Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone. Extremely Rare; one of only four examples offered at auction in the past two decades, of which this is arguably the finest.
Ex Lifchuz Collection, Áureo & Calicó, Auction 353, 21 October 2020, lot 197.
After his defeat of Marc Antony at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, Octavian, who later became Augustus, secured his political position at Rome and this decisive victory enabled him to pursue his ambitions of sole rule and reform of the Republican system of government. Following the years of unrest caused by civil war, Augustus was determined to repair the damage done to the Empire, both political and physical, and amongst other major ventures he embarked on a project to improve the quality and reach of its roads in an effort to strengthen trade networks and increase mobility.
This endeavour is referenced in the reverse legend of this coin which reads QVOD • VIAE • MVN • SVNT, communicating that the roads had been paved. This coin can therefore be seen to celebrate the finished and repaired roads that ameliorated the efficiency of the military and the ease of transportation of goods and people, something which became of increasing importance as the Empire's population continued to expand. Indeed, the benefits provided by the better road infrastructure were felt by tradespeople, the military and the wider populace alike, allowing all to travel longer distances quicker even when encumbered by equipment or goods.
The restoration of the roads was assigned to wealthy senators to manage and finance for the most part, however the strategically significant Via Flaminia was managed by Augustus personally. This was arguably one of the most vital roads on the Italian peninsula, linking Rome to Ariminum (modern-day Rimini), an important trade centre with strong existing trade links by sea and river and now land, thanks to the vast expense of Augustus' restorations. To mark the completion of his work on the road, Augustus constructed a triumphal arch at each end, monuments that are perhaps alluded to in the iconography on the reverse of this coin. Although it is not possible to attribute the arch depicted on this coin to a specific known structure, particularly since the arch at Ariminum, (which survives to this day) had only one aperture, it seems likely that this is an allegorical reference to the 'triumph' of finishing the road-building project.