Exceptional Depiction of the Curia Julia

Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 653. Estimate $2000.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $4750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Octavian. 30-29 BC. AR Denarius (3.75 g, 10h). Italian (Rome?) mint. Bare head right / IMP CAESAR on the architrave of the Roman Senate House (Curia Julia), showing central door with three windows above, porch supported by four short columns along front, statue of Victory on globe surmounting apex of roof, statues of standing figures, each holding spear and parazonium; at the extremities of the architrave, bas-reliefs of seated figure between animals or birds in pediment. RIC I 266; CRI 421; RSC 122; BMCRE 631 = BMCRR Rome 4358; BN 52-5. Choice EF, lightly toned.

The site of the Curia Julia, the Roman Senate House, is still occupied today by an edifice bearing a striking resemblance to this building. The church of S. Adriano was restored by Benito Mussolini between 1935-8 based on Diocletian’s early 4th century restoration of the Caesarian building.