The Roman Empire
Octavian, 32 – 29 BC
Denarius, Brundisium or Roma 28, AR 4.03 g. CAESAR – COS VI Bare head r.; behind, lituus . Rev. AEGVPTO / CAPTA Crocodile advancing r. C 2. BMC 650. RIC 275a. Sear Imperators 430. CBN 905 (Ephesus).
Very rare. A superb portrait and a wonderful old cabinet tone, reverse
slightly off-centre, otherwise good extremely fine
Ex UBS 78, 2008, 1230. Privately purchased from Mûnzhandlung Basel.

I also owned two pieces from this important issue – the first appearing in the first part of my collection. This coin, although with an off-centre reverse, has the best preserved crocodile that I had seen and I felt it was worth the effort to add it to the collection. Virtually mint state, note that the forelegs of the crocodile are both still fully formed as engraved and intended. Really a stunningly beautiful piece. MSG.