Denarius - Augustus DIVVS IVLIVS

Struck in 18 BC, this denarius belongs to a deliberate propaganda campaign by Augustus to legitimize his rule through direct association with Julius Caesar, officially deified by the Senate in 42 BC. The comet — the sidus Iulium — observed for seven days during Caesar's memorial games in 44 BC was interpreted publicly as his soul ascending to godhood; Augustus exploited that moment relentlessly for decades. RIC I 102 falls within the Spanish mint issues, likely Colonia Patricia, attributed to the period when Augustus was reorganizing the western provinces following his settlement of 27 BC.