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coin
Object Type
coin
Museum number
1866,1201.4182
Denomination
quinarius
Description
Silver coin.
(whole)
Head of Octavian, bare, right.
(obverse)
Victory, draped, standing left, holding wreath in right hand and palm in left hand, on a "cista mystica" between two snakes.
(reverse)
State
Associated with:
Roman Empire
Ancient Greece and Rome: Roman Empire
Authority
Ruler:
Augustus (Octavian)
Cultures/periods
Roman Imperial
Production date
29BC-27BC
Production place
Minted in:
Italy
(Brundisium and Rome?)
Materials
silver
Dimensions
Die-axis:
3 o'clock
Weight:
1.81 grammes
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments
The reverse type, with Victoria standing above the cista mystica, represents Octavian's victory over Marc Antony. The legend ASIA RECEPTA when translated states, "Asia recovered" and refers to the fact that Octavian regained the Asian provinces and client states for the Roman Empire.
Bibliographic references
RE1 / Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, vol. 1: Augustus to Vitellius
(647, p.105)
PCR / Principal coins of the Romans: Volume I: The Republic c. 290 - 31 BC; Volume II: The Principate 31 BC - AD 296; Volume III: The Dominate AD 294 - 498.
(322)
RIC1 / The Roman Imperial Coinage, vol. 1
(276, p.61)
RR2 / Coins of the Roman Republic in the British Museum, vol. 2. Coinages of Rome (continued), Roman Campania, Italy, the social war, and the provinces.
(240, p.536)
Location
Not on display
Subjects
emperor/empress
allegory/personification
reptile
classical deity
Associated names
Named in inscription & portrayed:
Augustus (Octavian)
Representation of:
Nike/Victoria/Victory
Associated places
Named in inscription:
Asia (Roman Province)
Acquisition name
Bequeathed by:
James Woodhouse
Acquisition date
1866
Department
Coins and Medals
Registration number
1866,1201.4182
C&M catalogue number
RE1
(105)
(647)
RR2
(536)
(240)