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Crawford 518/2, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Octavian, AR Denarius
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Rome. The Imperators.
Octavian, 44-27 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.67g; 17mm; 11h).
Military mint travelling with Octavian, 41BCE.
Obverse: C•CAESAR•III•VIR R•P•C; Octavian’s bare head facing right.
Reverse: POPVL IVSSV; Equestrian statue (Octavian?) left.
References: Crawford 518/2; HCRI 299; Sydenham 1317 (R5); BMCRR Gaul 79-80; Julia 97; Banti & Simonetti 701/2 (this coin illustrated).
Provenance: Ex Charles Chamberlain Collection [CNG eSale 509 (9 Feb 2022) Lot 624]; Andrew McCabe Collection [Italo Vecchi Ltd. 17 (15 Dec 1999), Lot 804]; acquired privately from Baldwin’s in 1992; Barone Dr. Pompeo Bonazzi di Sannicandro (1876-1956) Collection [Rodolfo Ratto (23 Jan 1924) Lot 1444].
This type is scarce and generally comes very poorly struck or from worn dies. Obverse die links prove that this type was struck together with the Crawford 518/1 denarii struck by Balbus as Propraetor (see adjacent coin by Balbus in this gallery). Crawford reports 11 obverse dies and 12 reverse dies; Schaefer RRDP has 24 obverse dies for BOTH 518/1 (Balbus type) and 518/2 and 15 reverse dies for 518/2. Based on an inscription, published by Orelli, from a Vatican plinth containing the words “IVSSV POPVLI” (“by order of the people”) originally associated with a statue of Julius Caesar, Babelon thought the reverse depicted a statue of Julius Caesar dedicated in 42BCE at the time of Caesar’s apotheosis. Grueber disagreed, pointing out that since most public statues were erected by order of the Roman people, a similar inscription could apply to a statue of Octavian. He assigned the reverse type as depicting an equestrian statue of Octavian dedicated in 41BCE after the Battle of Philippi. Sear agrees with Grueber on this point, while Crawford merely describes the statue as a “Galloping equestrian statute” without specific attribution.
This coin was part of the important Bonazzi Collection, which was sold anonymously in two parts by Rodolfo Ratto in the mid-1920s. Bonazzi began collecting about 1910 and quickly assembled a broad collection of Roman Republican coins in a very short time.
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![Crawford 518/2, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Octavian, AR Denarius
Rome. The Imperators.
Octavian, 44-27 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.67g; 17mm; 11h).
Military mint travelling with Octavian, 41BCE.
Obverse: C•CAESAR•III•VIR R•P•C; Octavian’s bare head facing right.
Reverse: POPVL IVSSV; Equestrian statue (Octavian?) left.
References: Crawford 518/2; HCRI 299; Sydenham 1317 (R5); BMCRR Gaul 79-80; Julia 97; Banti & Simonetti 701/2 (this coin illustrated).
Provenance: Ex Charles Chamberlain Collection [CNG eSale 509 (9 Feb 2022) Lot 624]; Andrew McCabe Collection [Italo Vecchi Ltd. 17 (15 Dec 1999), Lot 804]; acquired privately from Baldwin’s in 1992; Barone Dr. Pompeo Bonazzi di Sannicandro (1876-1956) Collection [Rodolfo Ratto (23 Jan 1924) Lot 1444].
This type is scarce and generally comes very poorly struck or from worn dies. Obverse die links prove that this type was struck together with the Crawford 518/1 denarii struck by Balbus as Propraetor (see adjacent coin by Balbus in this gallery). Crawford reports 11 obverse dies and 12 reverse dies; Schaefer RRDP has 24 obverse dies for BOTH 518/1 (Balbus type) and 518/2 and 15 reverse dies for 518/2. Based on an inscription, published by Orelli, from a Vatican plinth containing the words “IVSSV POPVLI” (“by order of the people”) originally associated with a statue of Julius Caesar, Babelon thought the reverse depicted a statue of Julius Caesar dedicated in 42BCE at the time of Caesar’s apotheosis. Grueber disagreed, pointing out that since most public statues were erected by order of the Roman people, a similar inscription could apply to a statue of Octavian. He assigned the reverse type as depicting an equestrian statue of Octavian dedicated in 41BCE after the Battle of Philippi. Sear agrees with Grueber on this point, while Crawford merely describes the statue as a “Galloping equestrian statute” without specific attribution.
This coin was part of the important Bonazzi Collection, which was sold anonymously in two parts by Rodolfo Ratto in the mid-1920s. Bonazzi began collecting about 1910 and quickly assembled a broad collection of Roman Republican coins in a very short time.](albums/userpics/34967/624_2.jpg "Crawford 518/2, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Octavian, AR Denarius
Rome. The Imperators.
Octavian, 44-27 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.67g; 17mm; 11h).
Military mint travelling with Octavian, 41BCE.
Obverse: C•CAESAR•III•VIR R•P•C; Octavian’s bare head facing right.
Reverse: POPVL IVSSV; Equestrian statue (Octavian?) left.
References: Crawford 518/2; HCRI 299; Sydenham 1317 (R5); BMCRR Gaul 79-80; Julia 97; Banti & Simonetti 701/2 (this coin illustrated).
Provenance: Ex Charles Chamberlain Collection [CNG eSale 509 (9 Feb 2022) Lot 624]; Andrew McCabe Collection [Italo Vecchi Ltd. 17 (15 Dec 1999), Lot 804]; acquired privately from Baldwin’s in 1992; Barone Dr. Pompeo Bonazzi di Sannicandro (1876-1956) Collection [Rodolfo Ratto (23 Jan 1924) Lot 1444].
This type is scarce and generally comes very poorly struck or from worn dies. Obverse die links prove that this type was struck together with the Crawford 518/1 denarii struck by Balbus as Propraetor (see adjacent coin by Balbus in this gallery). Crawford reports 11 obverse dies and 12 reverse dies; Schaefer RRDP has 24 obverse dies for BOTH 518/1 (Balbus type) and 518/2 and 15 reverse dies for 518/2. Based on an inscription, published by Orelli, from a Vatican plinth containing the words “IVSSV POPVLI” (“by order of the people”) originally associated with a statue of Julius Caesar, Babelon thought the reverse depicted a statue of Julius Caesar dedicated in 42BCE at the time of Caesar’s apotheosis. Grueber disagreed, pointing out that since most public statues were erected by order of the Roman people, a similar inscription could apply to a statue of Octavian. He assigned the reverse type as depicting an equestrian statue of Octavian dedicated in 41BCE after the Battle of Philippi. Sear agrees with Grueber on this point, while Crawford merely describes the statue as a “Galloping equestrian statute” without specific attribution.
This coin was part of the important Bonazzi Collection, which was sold anonymously in two parts by Rodolfo Ratto in the mid-1920s. Bonazzi began collecting about 1910 and quickly assembled a broad collection of Roman Republican coins in a very short time.")
