★ An enigmatic juvenile portrait of Augustus ★

Augustus, 27 BC-AD 14. Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 3.69 g, 6 h), uncertain mint in Pannonia (?), circa 12 BC. CA-ES-AR• Youthful bare head of Augustus to right; all within oak wreath. Rev. AVG-VST• Candalabrum decorated with ram's heads; all within a floral wreath entwined with two bucrania and three paterae. BMC 684. Cohen 2. RIC 540. Beautifully toned and with a very sensitive portrait. A few light scratches and with a small die break on the obverse, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

Ex Leu 13, 27 May 2023, 306, Numismatica Ars Classica 101, 24 October 2017, 76 and Künker 71, 12 March 2002, 671.

There has been some dispute over the dating of this enigmatic issue, which portrays Augustus with an unusually juvenile face. It has traditionally been connected to the ludi saeculares in 17 BC, but more recent research indicates that it may have been struck in 12 BC in Pannonia to pay the Danubian legions after the sudden decease of their beloved leader Agrippa.