Lot 1192
Augustus. Silver Denarius (3.47 g), 27 BC-AD 14. Tarraco(?), ca. 19 BC. CAESAR AVGVSTVS, bare head of Augustus right. Rev. OB CIVIS above, SERVATOS below, oak wreath with ties inwards. (RIC 75a (Colonia Patricia?); BN 1164-9; BMC 376-7; RSC 210). Lightly toned, lustrous surfaces. Superb extremely fine. Estimate $1,500UP
The oak wreath on the reverse of this coin is the corona civica, traditionally bestowed upon a Roman soldier who had saved a fellow citizen in battle by slaying the enemy. Here it is the corona civica that was awarded to Octavian by the Senate in 27 BC, when he was officially recognized as Augustus, the first Roman emperor. This honor recognized that by bringing an end to the civil war and bringing about the destruction of Mark Antony, he had saved the entire citizenry of Rome from endless bloodletting.
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| Realized $1,711 |
