Augustus (27 BC-AD 14). AR cistophorus (27mm, 11.83 gm, 1h). NGC XF 5/5 - 3/5, Fine Style. Ephesus, 28 BC. IMP•CAES...
Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
Auction Preview: Preview items may not have yet been properly described or vetted, and items are posted as soon as they have a description or a picture. We are continuing to add and correct information as we approach the auction posting date, so check back here often and Contact us with any comments or suggestions.
Consign your material with Heritage! Although the Consignment Deadline for this auction has passed, we are always accepting quality consignments.
Track Item
Share this lot
Description
Augustus (27 BC-AD 14). AR cistophorus (27mm, 11.83 gm, 1h). NGC XF 5/5 - 3/5, Fine Style. Ephesus, 28 BC. IMP•CAESAR•DIVI•F•COS•VI•LIBERTATIS•P•R•VINDEX, laureate head of Augustus right / PAX, Pax standing facing on torch left, head left, caduceus in outstretched right hand; snake emerging from cista mystica in right field, all within laurel wreath. RIC I 476. Well-centered dies.Born on 23 September 63 BC into a wealthy plebeian family, Augustus, originally Gaius Octavius, was the grandnephew and posthumously adopted son of Julius Caesar. This inheritance set him on a collision course with Rome's political elite, leading to the formation of the Second Triumvirate with Marc Antony and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. Their initial unity against Caesar's assassins eventually gave way to conflict, from which Augustus emerged as Rome's first true emperor after victories in key battles like Philippi and Actium. In 27 BC, he was honored with the title "Augustus" by the Senate, signaling the start of his reign and the Pax Romana, a golden era of peace, prosperity, and cultural flourishing that lasted over two centuries.
Augustus' rule saw significant military, administrative, and cultural reforms that stabilized and enriched the empire. He established a standing army, including the Praetorian Guard, reorganized Rome's provinces, and became a patron of the arts, fostering the careers of poets like Virgil and Horace and commissioning monumental buildings that reshaped Rome. His savvy use of coinage to communicate his achievements and vision helped solidify his power and legacy. Augustus died in AD 14, he left behind a transformed Rome. Through Suetonius's "The Twelve Caesars" and his own "Res Gestae Divi Augusti," we glimpse the life and achievements of a ruler who balanced autocracy with republican ideals, setting a precedent for future emperors and leaving an indelible mark on Roman history.
Auction Info
2026 February 1 Spotlight: Ancient Art - Star, Fine Style, and Toned Ancient Coins Showcase Auction #61593 (go to Auction Home page)
Bidding Begins Approx.
January
4th
Sunday
Auction Dates
February
1st
Sunday
Proxy Bidding Begins Approx.
20 Days
Internet/Mail Bids: N/A
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 58
Auction Type
Signature®: Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session. Check the Time Remaining on individual lots for details. After Internet bidding closes, live bidding will take place through www.HA.com/Live. Your secret maximum placed prior to the live event will compete against the live bids. To maximize your chances of winning, enter realistic secret maximum bids on our site. You can also place last minute bids directly with us by e-mailing Bid@HA.com or calling 1-866-835-3243. (Important note: Due to software and Internet latency, live bids may not register in time, so enter realistic proxy bids.)
Signature®: Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session. Check the Time Remaining on individual lots for details. After Internet bidding closes, live bidding will take place through www.HA.com/Live. Your secret maximum placed prior to the live event will compete against the live bids. To maximize your chances of winning, enter realistic secret maximum bids on our site. You can also place last minute bids directly with us by e-mailing Bid@HA.com or calling 1-866-835-3243. (Important note: Due to software and Internet latency, live bids may not register in time, so enter realistic proxy bids.)
Sales Tax information
| NGC Coin Grading Guarantee
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms | Ancient Coins Grading Tutorial
World and Ancient Coin Bibliography
Important information concerning Sales Tax and Resale Certificates. Learn More
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms | Ancient Coins Grading Tutorial
World and Ancient Coin Bibliography