Sale: CNG 64, Lot: 914. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 24 September 2003.  Sold For $1850. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

AUGUSTUS. 27 BC-14 AD. AR Denarius (3.78 gm). Spanish mint (Colonia Caesaraugusta?). Struck circa 19-18 BC. Head right, wearing oak wreath / DIVVS IVLIVS on either side of eight-rayed comet with tail upwards. RIC I 37a; RSC 98. Toned, good VF, some scratches on reverse. ($1000)

From the Tony Hardy Collection. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica H (30 April 1998), lot 1791.

This denarius reflects Octavian's use of his coinage to convey a political message. The obverse shows him wearing the corona civica, an oak wreath awarded to an individual who had personally saved a citizen (in Augustus' case it was the citizen body of the Roman world). The reverse depicts the comet which made a continuous daylight appearance during July 44 BC, and was associated with the deification of Julius Caesar.