Denarius of Augustus
Coin
ca. 39 BC (made)
ca. 39 BC (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This silver coin (denarius) of Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) and Agrippa depicts the heads of Julius Caesar and Augustus facing.
The denarius was a small silver coin and the principal silver coin issued in the ancient Roman currency system from the late 3rd century BC until the early 3rd century AD.
The use of the portrait is the most persistent and usually the most striking feature of coins of the Roman Empire. Particularly during the first three centuries of the Empire's existence (27 BC-AD 284) images of historically recorded (and some unrecorded) people appear on the majority of coins.
Roman coins acted as a vehicle for the quick and wide-reaching spread of propagandic images of Imperial power, at the centre of which was the embodiment of Rome and all that its Empire stood for, the Emperor himself. Roman coins survive in very large numbers and are frequently found right across Europe, reaching the furthest corners of the Empire.
The denarius was a small silver coin and the principal silver coin issued in the ancient Roman currency system from the late 3rd century BC until the early 3rd century AD.
The use of the portrait is the most persistent and usually the most striking feature of coins of the Roman Empire. Particularly during the first three centuries of the Empire's existence (27 BC-AD 284) images of historically recorded (and some unrecorded) people appear on the majority of coins.
Roman coins acted as a vehicle for the quick and wide-reaching spread of propagandic images of Imperial power, at the centre of which was the embodiment of Rome and all that its Empire stood for, the Emperor himself. Roman coins survive in very large numbers and are frequently found right across Europe, reaching the furthest corners of the Empire.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Denarius of Augustus (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Silver |
| Brief description | Coin (denarius), silver, of Augustus and Agrippa, depicting heads of J.Caesar & Augustus, Roman, ca. 39 BC |
| Physical description | Coin depicts on the obverse: Inscription. Head of Julius Caesar and Augustus facing. Border of dots. Reverse: Inscription. Border of dots. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Object history | From the Salting bequest. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This silver coin (denarius) of Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) and Agrippa depicts the heads of Julius Caesar and Augustus facing. The denarius was a small silver coin and the principal silver coin issued in the ancient Roman currency system from the late 3rd century BC until the early 3rd century AD. The use of the portrait is the most persistent and usually the most striking feature of coins of the Roman Empire. Particularly during the first three centuries of the Empire's existence (27 BC-AD 284) images of historically recorded (and some unrecorded) people appear on the majority of coins. Roman coins acted as a vehicle for the quick and wide-reaching spread of propagandic images of Imperial power, at the centre of which was the embodiment of Rome and all that its Empire stood for, the Emperor himself. Roman coins survive in very large numbers and are frequently found right across Europe, reaching the furthest corners of the Empire. |
| Bibliographic reference | 'Salting Bequest (A. 70 to A. 1029-1910) / Murray Bequest (A. 1030 to A. 1096-1910)'. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum (Department of Architecture and Sculpture). London: Printed under the Authority of his Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, East Harding Street, EC, p. 115 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.699-1910 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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