Augustus, or Gaius Octavian Thurinus as he was born in 63BC, was the founder of Imperial Rome and its first emperor. He reigned for 41 years and is considered one of the best emperors if not the best. He was married three times but only had one daughter, who, according to Roman law was not eligible to take the throne on Augustus' death. He was finally 'forced' to adopt his third wife's (Livia) son, Tiberius, as his heir and the rest is history, as they say.
Augustus, Silver Denarius, Lugdunum, 10 BC, RARE
Obverse: Laureate bust of Augustus, right, AVGVSTVS DIVI F
Reverse: Diana Venatrix, wearing long hunting tunic and low polos on head, advancing to right, with right hand drawing an arrow from quiver slung behind her and holding bow in left
Ref: RIC 197a
Grade: VF, small banker's mark on obverse
20mm, 3.75g
£750 (P&P FREE, other locations please ask first)
Augustus, Silver Denarius, Lugdunum, 2 BC-AD 12
Obverse: Laureate bust of Augustus, right
Reverse: Gaius and Lucius Caesars standing facing, two shields and two spears between them; above, on left, simpulum right, and on right, lituus left
Ref: RIC 207
Grade: VF
18.5mm, 3.38g
History note: This sought after denarius comes from the time of the birth of Jesus, struck approximately 2 BC to AD 4. It may well have been used in combination with other coinages in Judea and the surrounding areas. Augustus was emperor over the vicinity, but he made Herod king. The reverse shows Augustus's two grandsons, whom he adopted to make them heirs to the throne. Sadly, both predeceased him, and his wife, Livia, paved the way for her own son, Tiberius, to take the throne on Augustus's death.
£400 (P&P FREE, other locations please ask first) #327
Augustus, Silver 'Bull Butting' Denarius, Lugdunum, 15-13 BC
Obverse: Bare head of Augustus, right, AVGVSTVS DIVI F
Reverse: Bull butting, right, IMP X in exergue
Ref: RIC 167a
Grade: VF
17mm, 3.49g
£800 (P&P FREE, other locations please ask first)
Augustus, Silver Denarius, Struck Colonia Patricia, 18 BC
Obverse: Laureate bust of Augustus, right, CAESARI AVGVSTO
Reverse: Domed hexastyle temple of Mars Ultor containing legionary eagle between two standards, MAR VLT
Ref: Sear 1623
Grade: EF, very light banker's marks on cheek
18mm, 3.71g
£520 (P&P FREE, other locations please ask first)
Augustus, AE 22, Amphipolis, Macedon, 27 BC-AD 14
Obverse: Bare head of Augustus, right, KAIΣAPOΣ [ΣEBAΣT]OY
Reverse: Artemis Tauropolos, holding billowing veil, riding bull leaping to right, AMΦIΠ[OΛEITΩN]
Ref: RPC 1629
Grade: VF
22mm, 6.65g
£95 (P&P FREE, other locations please ask first)
Augustus, AE 16, Phrygia, Laodicea ad Lycum, 15 BC
Obverse: Bare head of Augustus, right, lituus to right
Reverse: Serpent entwined staff, ZEUXIS PHILALETHES
Ref: RPC 2895
Grade: Near VF
16mm, 1.67g
£65 (P&P FREE, other locations please ask first)
Augustus, with Gaius Caesar, AE 19, Phrygia, Apameia, 27 BC-AD 14, Rare
Obverse: Laureate bust of Augustus, right, ΣEBAΣTOΣ
Reverse: Gaius Caesar standing in facing quadriga, holding sceptre, ΓAIOΣ KAIΣAP above, ΓAIOΣ MAΣΩNIOΣ POYΦOΣ [AΠAMEΩN] in three lines below
Ref: RPC 3129
Grade: AVF/VF+
19mm, 5.56g
£130 (P&P FREE, other locations please ask first) #757
Augustus, with Gauis Caesar, AE 19, Phrygia, Apameia, 5 BC
Obverse: Laureate bust of Augustus, right, ΣEBAΣTOΣ
Reverse: Gaius Caesar standing in facing quadriga, holding sceptre, ΓAIOΣ KAIΣAP above, ΓAIOΣ MAΣΩNIOΣ POYΦOΣ [AΠAMEΩN] in three lines below
Ref: RPC 3129
Grade: VF
19mm, 4.56g
£140 (P&P FREE, other locations please ask first) #148
Augustus, AE 26, Lugdunum, AD 9-14
Obverse: Laureate bust of Augustus, right, CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI PATER PATRIAE
Reverse: Altar of Lugdunum, ROM ET AVG
Ref: RIC 230
Grade: VF+/EF, unusually good condition for this coin; red oxide deposits (these only come with great age, therefore act as an authenticity qualifier) and nice brown patina
26mm, 11.15g
Prov: Ex Lucernae Numismatics
£190 (P&P FREE, other locations please ask first) #35
Augustus, Divus Augustus, Copper As, 15 BC
Obverse: Radiate bust of Augustus, left, DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATER
Reverse: Façade of altar-enclosure of the Ara Providentiae Augusti, with double panelled door and horns of the altar visible above, S C PROVIDENT
Ref: RIC 81
Grade: F
27mm, 9.86g
£100 (P&P FREE, other locations please ask first) #780
Augustus & Agrippa, AE As, Nemausus, 10-14 AD
Obverse: Back-to-back heads of Agrippa, left, wearing rostral crown, and Augustus, right, bare, IMP DIVI F
Reverse: Crocodile, right, chained to palm, wreath with long ties trailing above, two palms below, COL NEM
Ref: RPC 522, RIC 154
Grade: AVF
24mm, 15.17g
£260 SOLD #233
Augustus & Agrippa, AE As, Nemausus, 10-14 AD
Obverse: Back-to-back heads of Agrippa, left, wearing rostral crown and laurel wreath, and Augustus, right, wearing oak-wreath, IMP DIVI F P P
Reverse: Crocodile, right, chained to palm, wreath with long ties trailing above, two palms below, COL NEM
Ref: RPC 525, RIC 160
Grade: Fine
25mm, 12.73g
£190 (P&P FREE, other locations please ask first) #756
Augustus, AE Semis, Lugdunum, 10-14 AD
Obverse: Laureate bust of Augustus, right, CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE
Reverse: Altar of Lugdunum ROM ET AVG
Ref: RIC 234
Grade: AVF, reverse off centre but most detail is evident
19mm, 4.53g
£80 (P&P FREE, other locations please ask first)
Augustus, AE 26, Spain, Colonia Patricia, 27 BC-14 AD
Obverse: Bare head of Augustus, left
Reverse: COLONIA PATRICIA in two lines
Ref: RPC Vol 1, 129
Grade: VF, dark patina and good detail for this coin type
26mm, 8.3g
Prov: Ex Lockdales
£95 (P&P FREE, other locations please ask first)
Augustus, Silver Denarius, Lugdunum, 27 BC-14 AD
Obverse: Laureate bust of Augustus, right, CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE
Reverse: Gaius and Lucius Caesars standing facing, each togate and resting hand on shield, spear behind each shield, simpulum and lituus above, C L CAESARES in exergue
Ref: RIC 207
Grade: AVF
18mm, 3.66g
£250 (P&P FREE, other locations please ask first)
Augustus, AE Semis, Caesaraugusta, Spain, 8-1 BC
Obverse: Laureate bust of Augustus, right, [AVGVSTVS] DIVI F
Reverse: Vexillum on basis, II-VIR across fields, CAESARV[GVSTA M POR]CI CN FAD
Ref: RPC 315
Grade: VF, not often seen in this grade
21mm, 6.36g
Prov: Ex Roma Numismatics
£130 (P&P FREE, other locations please ask first)
Augustus, Silver Denarius, Gaius & Lucius Caesar, Lugdunum Mint,
2 BC-AD 4
Obverse: Laureate bust of Augustus, right, CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE
Reverse: Gaius and Lucius Caesar standing facing, each togate and holding a spear with hand resting on a shield between them; simpulum and lituus above, AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT; CL CAESARES in exergue
Ref: RIC 1 207
Grade: F
19mm, 3.7g
£110 (P&P FREE, other locations please ask first)