★ Publius Quinctilius Varus ★

AUGUSTUS (27 BC-14 AD). As. Lugdunum.

Obv: CAESAR PONT MAX.
Laureate head right; c/m: VAR monogram within rectangular incuse.
Rev: ROM ET AVG.
Altar of Lugdunum flanked by two columns surmounted by two Victories, holding palm branch and wreath.

RIC² 230; for c/m: cf. Grünwald p. 130, type X, 74-5.

Publius Quinctilius Varus, a Roman general under Augustus, is remembered for the defeat in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, where the Roman army was ambushed by the German tribes led by Arminius. Varus committed suicide at the end and Augustus mourned the defeat for months by not cutting his beard. The Romans lost three legions (XVII, XVIII and XIX) in the fight.

Condition: C/M: very fine.

Weight: 10.95 g.
Diameter: 26 mm.