Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, silver denarius, 3.85 g.
Title
Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, silver denarius, 3.85 g.
Creator
Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus
Date
36. BCE
Description
Obverse: Bearded head of Octavian right; around, IMP CAESAR DIVI F III VIR ITER RPC. Border of dots.
Reverse: Tetrastyle temple; within, veiled statue of Julius Caesar holding lituus in right hand; in pediment, star; [on architrave, DIVO IVL]; to left, lighted altar; around, COS ITER ET TER DESIG. Border of dots.
Style/Period: Roman Republic
This coin of Octavian commemorates the final defeat of the family of Pompey and his followers after the defeat of Sextus Pompey. The assassination of Julius Caesar was finally avenged. To commemorate the event, Octavian commissioned the coin type on the reverse depicting the beginning of the construction of the Temple of Divine Julius in Rome, which was completed in 29 BCE. The star on the pediment was the sidum Iulium, the sign of the divinity of Julius Caesar. The inscription on the reverse is consul iterum et tertio designatus, "consul for the second time and designated for the third time." On the obverse is Octavian's portrait. The inscription reads "son of the divine imperator Caesar" and triumvir republicae constituendae, "triumvir for the second time [with Macus Antonius and Lepidus] for establishing the Republic." Here Octavian depicts himself as the descendant and vindicator of Julius Caesar as well as joint ruler of Rome. The coin is attributed to Statilius Taurus, the legate of Octaian in Africa, who may have issued the coins to pay the legions encamped in Sicily.
-- Bradford W. Wendel, LU '96
Bibliography: E. Babelon, Description historique et chronologique des monnaies de la republique romaine (Paris and London 1885-1886) Julia, 139; H. A. Grueber, Coins of the Roman Republic in the British Museum (London 1910), II, 580, no. 33; E. A. Sydenham, The Coinage of the Roman Republic (London 1952) 208, no. 1338; M.H. Crawford, Roman Republican Coinage (London 1974) 537-538, no. 540/2; J. P. C. Kent, Roman Coins (New York 1978) pl. 33, no. 118; R. A. G. Carson, Principal Coins of the Romans, I (London 1978) 79, no. 311; C. Foss, Roman Historical Coins (London 1990) 37, no. 83.
-- Bradford W. Wendel, LU '96
Bibliography: E. Babelon, Description historique et chronologique des monnaies de la republique romaine (Paris and London 1885-1886) Julia, 139; H. A. Grueber, Coins of the Roman Republic in the British Museum (London 1910), II, 580, no. 33; E. A. Sydenham, The Coinage of the Roman Republic (London 1952) 208, no. 1338; M.H. Crawford, Roman Republican Coinage (London 1974) 537-538, no. 540/2; J. P. C. Kent, Roman Coins (New York 1978) pl. 33, no. 118; R. A. G. Carson, Principal Coins of the Romans, I (London 1978) 79, no. 311; C. Foss, Roman Historical Coins (London 1990) 37, no. 83.
Source
Classics Department Collection
Identifier
C048
Rights
Wriston Art Center Galleries, Lawrence University, Appleton, WI,wriston-gallery@lawrence.edu,920-832-6890
Files
Citation
Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, “Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, silver denarius, 3.85 g.,” Lawrence University Classics Department & Ottilia Buerger Coin Collections, accessed November 5, 2026, https://thor.lawrence.edu/omeka/buerger/items/show/410.