AUGUSTUS SILVER DENARIUS – ISSUE OF SPANISH MINT WITH CLIPEUS VIRTUTIS AND LAUREL BRANCHES SEEMINGLY PEDIGREED TO 1898 – CHOICE XF NGC GRADED ROMAN IMPERIAL COIN OF THE 12 CAESARS (Inv. 18821)

$4,000.00

FPL V, 65 (18821). ROMAN EMPIRE. AUGUSTUS, 27 BC-14 AD.
Silver denarius, 3.62 g, 18 mm. Issue of a Spanish mint, perhaps Colonia Caesaraugusta, ca. 19-18 BC.
Obv. Head of Augustus right, wearing oak wreath (corona civica). Rev. CAESAR AVGVSTVS, two laurel trees flanking shield inscribed CL V; S-P/Q-R around.
RIC I rev 36a (rarity R3).
Ex Southern Collector; ex CNG Triton XII, 1/6/2009, lot 535 = William C. Boyd Collection, Baldwin’s 42, 9/26/2005, lot 188, together with Boyd’s original ticket indicating purchase from Seltman in 1898. Presumably this refers to the E.J. Seltman Collection sold by Leo Hamburger on 6/13/1892, and although this denarius is not among the coins offered in that catalogue it may have been sold by private treaty.
NGC graded CHOICE XF, Strike 4/4, Surface 4/4, with superb golden iridescent highlights throughout.

An important coin for Augustan propaganda, this issue depicts the great honors bestowed on Octavian by the Senate in 27 BC, when he assumed the new name of Augustus. The corona civica was an oak wreath traditionally awarded to a soldier for saving the life of a Roman citizen. It was granted to Augustus symbolically for saving the lives of all Roman citizens by ending the bloody cycle of civil wars of the late Republic. The laurel trees represent those that were planted to flank the door of Augustus’ house in honor of his victories and in recognition of his association with Apollo. The inscribed shield is the clipeus virtutis, which was awarded to Augustus in honor of his courage, clemency, justice, and piety. It was prominently displayed in the Curia Julia whenever the Senate met.