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My first Augustus denarius :)

MKUltra24MKUltra24 Posts: 652 ✭✭✭✭
edited February 24, 2022 1:23AM in World & Ancient Coins Forum

I’ve been collecting denarii for a couple of years and for most of that time I’ve purposely avoided a denarius of Augustus because I was very particular about what I wanted.

Firstly I wanted a denarius struck on a large flan.

Secondly I wanted a denarius with an anepigraphic portrait of just Augustus without all the “IMP CAESAR TRP COS PP” titles and proclamations all over the obverse.

Lastly I wanted a denarius of Augustus that has an interesting reverse and not something boring like Aequitas standing there holding scales.

Well a couple days ago I won this one and it’s my favorite denarius ever! :)

This denarius was minted to celebrate the Battle of Actium and defeat of Mark Antony and Cleopatra.

Octavian, as Sole Imperator (30-27 BC). AR denarius (20mm, 3.93 gm, 9h). NGC XF 5/5 - 4/5. Italian mint (Brundisium or Rome?), ca. 30-29 BC. Bare head of Octavian right; linear border / IMP-CAESAR, naval and military trophy on prow right, crossed rudder and anchor at base. RIC I 265a.



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    Bob13Bob13 Posts: 1,419 ✭✭✭✭✭

    What a historic coin - congrats!

    My current "Box of 20"

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    MKUltra24MKUltra24 Posts: 652 ✭✭✭✭
    edited January 20, 2022 1:03PM

    @Bob13 said:
    What a historic coin - congrats!

    Thanks Bob! Definitely my favorite denarius :)

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    MaxfliMaxfli Posts: 40 ✭✭

    Nice. You did good!

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    MKUltra24MKUltra24 Posts: 652 ✭✭✭✭

    @Maxfli said:
    Nice. You did good!

    Thanks Max :)

    Next up: Tiberius! (or Nerva)

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    MKUltra24MKUltra24 Posts: 652 ✭✭✭✭

    Yay it’s out for delivery today! 😃

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    ashelandasheland Posts: 22,688 ✭✭✭✭✭

    That's awesome!

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    BailathaclBailathacl Posts: 1,013 ✭✭✭

    Love the Roman obverses without legends. Simple. Elegant. Great coin for sure.

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    MKUltra24MKUltra24 Posts: 652 ✭✭✭✭

    @Bailathacl said:
    Love the Roman obverses without legends. Simple. Elegant. Great coin for sure.

    Same here! I specifically picked one without all the legends :).

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    WillieBoyd2WillieBoyd2 Posts: 5,037 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I watched the 1934 film "Cleopatra" today where an actor played Octavian.

    What film actor would best play him based on his portrait on the coin?

    :)

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    bennybravobennybravo Posts: 1,868 ✭✭✭

    Wow! Beautiful example!!!!

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    MKUltra24MKUltra24 Posts: 652 ✭✭✭✭

    @WillieBoyd2 said:
    I watched the 1934 film "Cleopatra" today where an actor played Octavian.

    What film actor would best play him based on his portrait on the coin?

    :)

    Hmm maybe Kirk Douglas?

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    MKUltra24MKUltra24 Posts: 652 ✭✭✭✭

    @bennybravo said:
    Wow! Beautiful example!!!!

    Thanks Benny! Shame they aren’t more common. You’d imagine an Emperor like Augustus (who minted tons of coins and reigned for a long time) would have more surviving examples.

    Like how Gordian III antoninianii are abundant and thus cheap even in Mint State.

    This Augustus is the most expensive of all my denarii. xD

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    TwoKopeikiTwoKopeiki Posts: 9,539 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Great example! Congrats.


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    0ronron0ronron Posts: 248 ✭✭✭

    Very nice coin!!

    Thank you, Heavenly Father, for first loving us.

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    MKUltra24MKUltra24 Posts: 652 ✭✭✭✭

    @0ronron said:
    Very nice coin!!

    Thanks mate! :) Anything in particular you like about it?

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    MKUltra24MKUltra24 Posts: 652 ✭✭✭✭

    @TwoKopeiki said:
    Great example! Congrats.

    Thanks TwoKopeiki! Big fan of your Spanish dollar collection myself ;).

    You’ve got an amazing collection of them.

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    MKUltra24MKUltra24 Posts: 652 ✭✭✭✭

    Oh if anyone else wants to share their own Augustus coins please feel free! :)

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    0ronron0ronron Posts: 248 ✭✭✭

    Very nice coins!! I am on the hunt myself...

    Thank you, Heavenly Father, for first loving us.

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    lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,198 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Awesome. That trophy reverse with the ship's prow is cool. I like the anepigraphic obverse, too.


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    markelman1125markelman1125 Posts: 1,771 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very nicely struck, you usually don’t see them struck with such detail

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    MKUltra24MKUltra24 Posts: 652 ✭✭✭✭

    @markelman1125 said:
    Very nicely struck, you usually don’t see them struck with such detail

    Thanks! :)

    Yeah it’s tough to find them in high grades. Even this one in XF cost more than any of my other denarii.

    But I think it’s worth it. I think even in the future ancient Roman coin collectors will find this coin beautiful :).

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    MKUltra24MKUltra24 Posts: 652 ✭✭✭✭

    @lordmarcovan said:
    Awesome. That trophy reverse with the ship's prow is cool. I like the anepigraphic obverse, too.

    Thanks Marco!

    I imagine the trophy & prow are meant to symbolize naval & land forces at the Battle of Actium and represent their victory. ;)

    Augustus also had a similar gold aureus minted to go along with it!

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    StellaStella Posts: 689 ✭✭✭✭

    The obverse has a simple elegance to it. Congratulations on finding a piece that you love so much!

    Coin collector since childhood and New York Numismatist at Heritage Auctions.
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    MKUltra24MKUltra24 Posts: 652 ✭✭✭✭

    @Stella said:
    The obverse has a simple elegance to it. Congratulations on finding a piece that you love so much!

    Thanks Stella! :)

    I love the obverse too! It sends a very strong message.

    It says: “I don’t need to tell you who I am with titles & proclamations. You already know who I am just from my portrait. If you don’t then you’re not important enough for me to care”.

    It’s a very clear message of confidence in his own position and authority as Emperor.

    I love it! :) Even if it means I won’t be able to get any new coins for a while lol!

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