AUGUSTUS SILVER DENARIUS – IRIDESCENT MARVEL CARISIUS ISSUE OF EMERITA EX HUBEL EX MARTINI COLLECTION FROM THE RATTO SALE OF 1930 – VF NGC GRADED ROMAN REPUBLICAN COIN (Inv. 19925)

$4,500.00

19925. ROMAN EMPIRE. AUGUSTUS, 27 BC–14 AD.
Silver Denarius, 3.65 g, 18 mm. Issue Emerita, struck by P. Carisius, ca. 25–23 BC.
Obv. IMP CAESAR AVGVST, bare head of Augustus left. Rev. P CARISIVS LEG PRO PR, Celtiberian helmet facing, dagger at left, bipennis at right.
RIC I rev 7b.
Ex Robert W. Hubel Collection, Michigan = Cahn 80, 2/27/1933, lot 566 = Joseph Martini Collection, R. Ratto, 2/24/1930, lot 1522.
NGC graded VF, Strike 4/5, Surface 3/5, “brushed,” Ratto provenance noted on label, with exceptional lilac and blue iridescent toning throughout.

The reverse of this denarius celebrates the victories won by Augustus over the Celtiberian Asturians of northwestern Hispania through the actions of his legate Publius Carisius. In 26–25 BC, Carisius led Legio V Aluadae, Legio VI Victrix, and Legio X Gemina in the ongoing Cantabrian Wars, successfully defeating a surprise attack by the Asturians and completing the conquest of Asturias Transmontana. Roman veterans of these campaigns were settled in Carisius’ new foundation, the city of Emerita Augusta (today’s Mérida in Spain), where this coin was struck.