Nomos 23

Augustus, 27 BC-AD 14. Aureus (Gold, 21 mm, 7.96 g, 11 h), Italian mint, probably Rome, 27 BC. CAESAR · COS · VII - CIVIBVS · SERVATEIS Bare head of Augustus to right. Rev. AVGVSTVS / S C Eagle standing facing, with spread wings and head turned to left, atop a corona civica; behind, two laurel branches. Bahrfeldt 113. BMC 656. BN 911 (Ephesus). Calicó 173. Cohen 30. RIC 277. Very rare, of exceptional quality and most attractive. Some very minor marks, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

Sold on behalf of the Compagnie Bancaire Helvétique, Switzerland, ex Numismatica Ars Classica 54, 24 March 2010, 288.

On 16 January 27 BC, the Roman Senate both conferred the title of Augustus on Octavian and also awarded him the corona civica for saving the Roman state. This superb aureus of Rome's first emperor is one of the earliest coins - if not the very earliest - to present his new title, which is prominently displayed above the eagle, Jupiter's familiar, shown grasping the civic oak-wreath awarded to the newly titled Augustus (perhaps we should see the eagle as actually bringing the wreath to Octavian, as an emissary of both Jupiter and the Senate?). Behind the eagle's wings are two laurel trees, which represent a further honor: the trees that the Senate had planted outside Augustus' home. The association of Augustus, Rome's first citizen, with Jupiter who was first among the immortals, is clearly evident from the chosen iconography.