Romanatic - Roman Imperial Coinage

Comments

	Simon Wieland	19:23:37, 08.02.2009
Note by Classical Numismatic Group: The example illustrated in Calicó was sold in Leu 87 (6 May 2003), lot 1 = Numismatic Fine Arts XXII (1 June 1989), lot 30. That example also exhibited the same “owner’s mark” on the reverse, which is also visible on lot 761 below.Victory is holding the golden shield, the clypeus virtutis, that the Senate presented to Augustus in 26 BC.

	Simon Wieland	19:23:37, 08.02.2009
Note by Leu Numismatik AG: From the mid 20s through 16 B.C., prior to opening of the great mint of Lugdunum, Spanish mints – Emerita, Colonia Patricia and Caesaraugusta – produced a considerable quantity of Imperial gold and silver coins for Augustus, far more, at this time, than any other mints outside of Rome. This out pouring of coinage, accompanied by huge amounts of provincial aes from a considerable number of mints, can be explained by the presence of conveniently located gold and silver mines, a large urbanized population long familiar with coinage, and by the four legions then stationed in Hispania (the vast majority of the precious metal coin types bear military themes). The reverse of this coin is no exception: it shows Victory, undoubtedly referring back to Actium and the golden shield, the clypeus virtutis, presented to Augustus by the Senate in 26.