Obolos 2

Augustus, 27 BC-AD 14. Denarius (Silver, 18mm, 3.64 g 5), Colonia Patricia, 19 BC. CAESAR AVGVSTVS Bare head of Augustus to right. Rev. SIGNIS RECEPTIS Aquila on left and standard on right flanking S - P / Q - R arranged around shield inscribed CL V. BMC 417. BN 1132. Cohen 19. RIC 86a. A superb piece with a particularly beautiful portrait. Obverse slightly unevenly toned, otherwise, extremely fine.

The CL V on the reverse of this issue represents the clipeus virtutis, which was - according to the Res Gestae Divi Augusti, the funerary inscription giving the achievements of Augustus - a golden shield displayed in the Curia Iulia that had been given to Augustus by the Senate and the Roman people (Senatus PopulusQue Romanus) in commemoration of his virtue, piety, justice and clemency. Even though it seems to be obvious that Augustus must have been awarded the shield right after he achieved absolute power and declared the restoration of the Republic, Sydenham suggests "that there is no decisive evidence as to the exact date at which the golden shield was conferred, but the coins on which it is represented are of later date than the year BC 27". When, in 19 BC, the Parthians returned the standards they had captured from Crassus in 53, there would have been an excellent opportunity to once again recall Augustus' pietas, one of the virtues recorded on the clipeus.