Octavian, Agustus Silver Denarius, Summer 37 BC, Central Italy, Silver. NGC XF
Lot 283 · Consigned by ahmedmohkhedr
Closed
Description
Octavian, Agustus Silver Denarius, Italy mint 37 BC. 3.76g
Obverse: IMP CA[ESAR DIVI F] III VIR ITER R P C, bare head of Octavian facing right.
Reverse: COS ITER ET TER•DESIG, simpulum, sprinkler, jug and lituus.
(Babelon 140. Crawford 538/1; CRI 312; Sydenham 1334; RSC 91).
Ngc graded XF
Historical Significance
Struck in the summer of 37 BC, this highly historic silver denarius dates to the turbulent Roman Imperatorial period, just a decade before the fall of the Roman Republic. This specific coinage was minted following the historic meeting at Tarentum between Octavian and Mark Antony, where they agreed to renew the Second Triumvirate for another five years.
At this point in history, Octavian was not yet "Augustus" (the first Emperor), but a young, ruthless commander using his coinage as political propaganda to cement his legitimacy as the rightful heir to Julius Caesar.