coin

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Object Type
Museum number: 1904,0203.17
Denomination: denarius
Description: Silver coin. (whole); Head of Augustus, wearing oak-wreath, left. (obverse); Round shield, inscribed, between two laurel-branches. (reverse)
State
Authority
Cultures/periods
Production date: 19BC-18BC
Production place: Minted in: Spain; Minted in: Caesaraugusta (possibly)
Materials
Dimensions: Die-axis: 5 o'clock; Weight: 3.53 grammes
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: In the Res Gestae, Augustus records that the Senate, in giving him the title Augustus, also decreed that the doorposts of his house be officially decorated with laurel, that the corona civica be placed over the door and that a shield be displayed in the Curia Iulia. This shield, or clipeus, had been dedicated to him by the Senate and the Roman People on account of his virtues of bravery, clemency, justice, and piety; virtues which were inscribed on the shield itself. The return in 19 BC of the Roman standards captured by the Parthians in earlier conflicts offered an excellent opportunity to once again recall Augustus' pietas, one of the virtues recorded on the clipeus.
Bibliographic references: RE1 / Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, vol. 1: Augustus to Vitellius (322, p.59); RIC1 / The Roman Imperial Coinage, vol. 1 (36b, p.44); 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. (143, p.423)
Location: Not on display
Subjects: emperor/empress; arms/armour; tree/bush
Associated names
Acquisition name
Acquisition date: 1904
Department: Coins and Medals
Registration number: 1904,0203.17
C&M catalogue number: RE1 (59) (322); RR2 (423) (143)

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