Founder and 1st Emperor Augustus Silver Denarius, Bull Butting Right, Lugdunum Mint, BCE 15-13

Description

Denomination: Silver denarius

Period: Early Roman Imperial

Date: 15-13BCE

Origin: Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Gaul

Condition: VF. with some pleasing toning. one of the superior portraits of Augustus.

Obverse: Bare head to right. AVGVS[TVS] DIVI F

Reverse: Bull butting right. IMP X in exergue

Size and Weight: 18mm. 3.92g

References: RIC I 167a. RSC 137

Features and Provenance: Ex Roma coin. previously a European collection.

Augustus. or Gaius Octavian Thurinus as he was born in BC63. was the founder of Imperial Rome and its first emperor. He reigned for 41 years and is considered one of the best emperors if not the best. He was married three times but only had one daughter. who. according to Roman law was not eligible to take the throne on Augustus’ death. He was finally ‘forced’ to adopt his third wife’s (Livia) son. Tiberius. as his heir and the rest is history. as they say.

Condition Summary. This varies with the age of coin and there are grades between

Uncirculated (U). As struck with no traces of wear

Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear. all parts of legend etc present. visible and clear

Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of legend etc present. but maybe worn

Fine (F). Wear on the coin and parts of legend etc may be missing or not visible