Octavian AR Denarius. Uncertain Italian mint (Rome?), 28 BC. CAESAR COS•VI, bare head to right; lituus behind / Crocodile standing to right; AEGYPTO above, CAPTA below. RIC I 275a; BMCRE 650 = BMCRR East 243; CRI 430; RSC 2. 3.32g, 20mm, 11h.

Near Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone, a highly attractive example of a sought-after type. Rare.

Bearing the Nile crocodile as the sole element of the reverse design, and with the simple legend conveying a succinct message, this coin proudly announces Octavian's annexation of Egypt to the Empire. After the Battle of Actium, Octavian invaded Egypt in August 30 BC and with the conquest that followed both assured his supremacy by the death of Marc Antony and Cleopatra, and guaranteed his power through the great wealth of Egypt and the grain supply that could be harnessed for Rome. The Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, the last of the great Hellenistic kingdoms, had been reduced to the status of a Roman province.