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Auction: 25055 - British Medals and World Coins featuring The Hurter-Amman Collection of Ancient and European Gold
Lot: 1090

NGC VF | Roman Imperatorial, Octavian, latterly Augustus (27 BCE - AD 14), Commemorative 'Veterans of Actium' AV Aureus, struck Autumn 30 - Summer 29 BC, Uncertain Military Mint, bare head right, rev. Victory standing atop globe, head turned left, holding wreath and vexillum, IMP - CAESAR across field, 7.77g, 10h (BMC 622 ['The East']; Cohen 113; RIC I², 268 [Brundisium and Rome (?)]; Calicó 205 [Nikomedia or Nikaia]; Biaggi 104; Bahrfeldt 109.1 these dies; CBN 85; CRI 417), typical banker's marks in anepigraphic obverse field and areas of smoothing, otherwise residually lustrous, and on a broad round flan, only fine or marginally bolder, but rare; an historic issue handled by the very men who established the Roman Empire, in NGC holder, graded VF ~ Edge Marks, Wavy Flan, Scratches (Cert. #8534355-004) [Strike 5/5; Surfaces 2/5]

Provenance

The "Hurter-Amman" Collection of Ancient and World Gold and Silver Coins and Medals



Struck during the last phase of Octavian's "pre-Augustan" specie, this iconography appeared on both aureii and denarii to mark his victory over Mark Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium and subsequent conquest of Egypt. Here Victory stands atop a celestial globe, holding a vexillum (a military standard) instead of her usual palm branch. This variation of Victory has been associated with a statue of the deity which stood at the apex of the pediment of the Curia Julia.



This municipal building had been Gaius Julius Caesar's vision for a new Senate House, with preparations commenced shortly before his assassination in 44 BC. Octavian ensured its completion shortly after Actium. With his coffers soaked with Egyptian gold, Octavian could pay off thousands of demobilised Army veterans with settlements on estates throughout Italy and the Provinces. Not only did this provide security and extend Rome's sphere of influence, through which culturalisation would further spread, but critically released the state from the onerous burden of maintaining some sixty superfluous Legions.


https://www.ngccoin.uk/certlookup/8534355-004/NGCAncients/

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Estimate
£1,000 to £2,000

Starting price
£750