Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, silver denarius (Type VI), 3.68 g.

Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, silver denarius (Type VI), 3.68 g.

Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus

c. 36 BCE

Obverse: Bare head of Octavian facing right.

Reverse: Venus Victrix standing, nude to waist, resting left arm on column, holding scepter in left hand and crested helmet in extended right hand; to left, shield ornamented with star; across field, [C]AESAR DIVI F.

Style/Period: Roman Republic

This coin of Octavian refers to the ovation given by him after the battle of Naulochus. On the reverse, he depicts Venus Victrix, to whom he attributed his victories. Venus Victrix was worshiped and revered by the gens Julia, which claimed descent from her. With the advent of Octavian's control of the coinage, the abbreviated names of magistrates no longer regularly appear on the coins. Octavian here used a more youthful and idealized portrait of himself (compare coin C048), which he would continue to do throughout his reign.
-- Bradford W. Wendel, LU '96

Bibliography: H. A. Grueber, Coins of the Roman Republic in the British Museum (London 1910), II, 8-10, no. 4333; C. H. V. Sutherland, Roman Coins (New York 1974) 120, nos. 204-205; J. P. C. Kent, Roman Coins (New York 1978) pls. 34-35, no. 121; R. A. G. Carson, Principal Coins of the Romans, I (London 1978) 80, no. 313.

Classics Department Collection

C049

Wriston Art Center Galleries, Lawrence University, Appleton, WI,wriston-gallery@lawrence.edu,920-832-6890