Augustus, Aureus, 15-13 BC
Lugdunum - Rare - Gold - NGC - Ch XF 5/5-1/5 - RIC:172
PLEASE NOTE: this collector's item is unique. We therefore cannot guarantee its availability over time and recommend that you do not delay too long in completing your purchase if you are interested.
Head of Augustus, bare, right.
Diana, in tunic, standing at angle to left, leaning right hand on spear and holding bow in left; dog left
Magnificent specimen of the issues in the type of Diana of Sicily struck at Lugdunum by Augustus. Here we have the issue dated to the 10th imperial salutation (IMP X), between 15 and 13 BC, to be compared with the existence of almost identical types for the 12th imperial salutation (IMP XII, RIC I² Augustus 181, 11-10 BC). These issues are part of an iconographic group celebrating these salutations along with two other types, the sacrificial bull and the Apollo Actian. They show the importance of Sicily to Rome, which was Rome's first province and then became a power position for the Second Triumvirate. This Diana of Sicily celebrates the victory of Nauloque in 36 BC, against the troops of Sextus Pompeius, and her association with her brother Apollo Actian, celebrating Octavian's victory over Mark Antony at Actium in 31 BC, is there to put these victories and their importance for Augustus on the same level, and adds to the political iconography of Augustus in the assertion of his power thanks to the intervention of these divinities on his behalf, making his accession to imperial power legitimised by his victories over his enemies. Graded NGC N°5781514-001, Ch XF, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 1/5. Smoothing. Edge Damage.
AVGVSTVS DIVI F
IMP• X // SICIL•
7.8 gr
Gold
Although nowadays gold enjoys a reputation as the king of precious metals, that was not always the case. For example, in Ancient Greece, Corinthian bronze was widely considered to be superior. However, over the course of time, it has established itself as the prince of money, even though it frequently vies with silver for the top spot as the standard.
Nevertheless, there are other metals which appear to be even more precious than this duo, take for example rhodium and platinum. That is certain. Yet, if the ore is not as available, how can money be produced in sufficient quantities? It is therefore a matter of striking a subtle balance between rarity and availability.
But it gets better: gold is not only virtually unreactive, whatever the storage conditions (and trouser pockets are hardly the most precious of storage cases), but also malleable (coins and engravers appreciate that).
It thus represents the ideal mix for striking coins without delay – and we were not going to let it slip away!
The chemical symbol for gold is Au, which derives from its Latin name aurum. Its origins are probably extraterrestrial, effectively stardust released following a violent collision between two neutron stars. Not merely precious, but equally poetic…
The first gold coins were minted by the kings of Lydia, probably between the 8th and 6th century BC. Whereas nowadays the only gold coins minted are investment coins (bullion coins) or part of limited-edition series aimed at collectors, that was not always the case. And gold circulated extensively from hand to hand and from era to era, from the ancient gold deposits of the River Pactolus to the early years of the 20th century.
As a precious metal, in the same way as silver, gold is used for minting coins with intrinsic value, which is to say the value of which is constituted by the metal from which they are made. Even so, nowadays, the value to the collector frequently far exceeds that of the metal itself...
It should be noted that gold, which is naturally very malleable, is frequently supplemented with small amounts of other metals to render it harder.
The millesimal fineness (or alloy) of a coin indicates the exact proportion (in parts per thousand) of gold included in the composition. We thus speak, for example, of 999‰ gold or 999 parts of gold per 1 part of other metals. This measure is important for investment coins such as bullion. In France, it was expressed in carats until 1995.
