Augustus (27 BC-AD 14). AR denarius (20mm, 3.79 gm, 6h). NGC Choice XF S 5/5 - 5/5. Spanish Mint (Colonia Caesaraugusta), 19-18 BC. CAESAR-AVGVSTVS, head of Augustus right wearing oak wreath / DIVVS-IVLIVS, eight-rayed comet with tail upwards. RIC I 37a. Note - the holder misdescribes the mint as Lugdunum, which was not yet open when this coin was minted. A comet that appeared in summer 44 BC was held to signal Julius Caesar's ascension to the heavens and proved quite useful in Octavian's effort to get the Senate to deify his adoptive father. The memory of Caesar's deification was revived in connection with Augustus' proposal to hold the Saecular Games in 17 BC and the "Julian star" is featured on his coinage in the years leading up to the event.

HID09801242017

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