Augustus (27 BC-AD 14). AE sestertius (32mm, 25.67 gm, 7h). ANACS VF 35, tooled. Lugdunum, ca. AD 10-14. CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE, laureate head of Augustus right / ROM ET AVG, façade of the Altar of Roma and Augustus at Lugdunum, decorated with wreathes, palmettes and garlands, flanked by two Victories turned inwards on columns. RIC I 231a. From a Private Japanese Collection. Ex Lexington Collection of Jonathan K. Kern (Heritage Auction 3032, CICF, 10 April 2014), lot 23882. Although Augustus regularized the Roman coinage system and established the large orichalcum (or brass) sestertius as its foundation, coins of this denomination with his portrait were never struck in Rome during his lifetime. Late in his long reign, the important Gallic mint city of Lugdunum began striking sestertii with an idealized head of Augustus, similar to the portrait seen on the widely circulating silver denarii of the same city, backed with the façade of the Great Altar of Lugdunum constructed by the general Nero Claudius Drusus in 12 BC. These portrait sestertii were evidently struck in relatively large numbers, but saw heavy circulation and are rarely seen today in anything other than heavily worn condition. The present example certainly ranks among the best specimens of the type we have ever seen offered, with negligible wear and largely natural surfaces.

HID09801242017

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