433, Lot: 349. Estimate $1000. Sold for $1200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Augustus. Silver (19mm, 3.76 g, 6h). AR Denarius. Uncertain Spanish mint (Colonia Caesaraugusta?). Struck circa 19-18 BC. Head left, wearing oak wreath / DIVVS • IVLIVS across field, comet with eight rays and tail. RIC I 37b; RSC 97. Good VF, brightly cleaned surfaces.

A comet that appeared in summer 44 BC was held to signal Julius Caesar’s ascension to the heavens and proved quite useful in Octavian's effort to get the Senate to deify his adoptive father. The memory of Caesar’s deification was revived in connection with Augustus’ proposal to hold the Saecular Games in 17 BC and the "Julian star" is featured on coinage in the years leading up to the event.