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Augustus
Aureus, 19-4 v. Chr. in Rom.
Vs.: CAESAR AVGVSTVS, Augustus Kopf mit Eichenkranz nach rechts.
Rs.: M DVRMIVS / IIIVIR, Krabbe die einen Schmetterling festhält.
RIC²
316 (R4);
BMC
60
Bild von:
Numismatica Ars Classica
Romanatic-ID: 404
Kommentare
Simon Wieland
19:23:37, 08.02.2009
Note by Numismatica Ars Classica:
This charming reverse has puzzled numismatists from Eckhel to Mattingly, none whom could find a satisfactory explanation. Its decorative appearance suggests it is a punning or canting type (like the Augustus aureus with the floral reverse offered in this sale), but the moneyer’s name, M. Durmius, does not support that conclusion. Further, the combination of a crab and butterfly does not yield any obvious answers when compared with Roman art in other media. The design is loosely comparable to denarii struck some three generations earlier by the imperator Cassius (Cr. 505/3) since they show a crab clutching an aplustre, with a diadem and a rose positioned below. With Cassius’ denarii, though, the meaning of the design is both historical and clear since he had just scored an important victory over the Rhodian fleet – the crab thus represented the city of Cos and the rose the city of Rhodes.