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Denarius - Octavian C•CAESAR•III•VIR•R•P•C / BALBVS PRO•PR
| Issuer | Roman Republic (509 BC - 27 BC) |
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| Year | 41 BC |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Hammered |
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| Obverse description | Bare head of Octavian (the future Augustus) facing right, rendered in a youthful portrait style characteristic of his early triumviral coinage. The effigy displays short, lightly striated hair swept forward over the forehead, with delicate facial features appropriate to his age at the time of issue. A beaded border encircles the design. The circumscribed legend C•CAESAR•III•VIR•R•P•C reads around the periphery, identifying Octavian as one of the tresviri rei publicae constituendae (triumvirs for the restoration of the Republic), with the inscription distributed on both sides of the portrait. |
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| Obverse lettering | C•CAESAR•III•VIR•R•P•C |
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| Additional information |
Struck in 41 BC, this denarius belongs to the chaotic period immediately following the Ides of March assassinations and the subsequent formation of the Second Triumvirate. Cornelius Balbus served as proquaestor under Octavian, and his name appearing on the coinage reflects the Triumviral practice of magistrates asserting their authority — and loyalty — through mint office. The issue dates to roughly the same moment as the Perusine War, when tensions between Octavian and Mark Antony's brother Lucius were rapidly escalating toward open conflict in Italy.