116, Lot: 189. Estimate $300. Sold for $334. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

OCTAVIAN. 30-29 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.73 g). Italian (Rome?) mint. Bare head right / Facade of the Roman Curia with a tetrastyle porch; IMP CAESAR on the architrave; figure seated between animals, vis-à-vis, in pediment; Victory standing facing on globe, holding wreath and vexillum, on apex of roof; statues, each holding a parazonium and sceptre, standing at each end of architrave. RIC I 266; CRI 421; BMCRE 631; RSC 122. Near VF, attractively toned.

From the Tony Hardy Collection.

Long thought to be the temple dedicated to the Divus Julius, this edifice can now be securely identified as the Curia Julia, begun by Caesar shortly before his assassination in 44 BC, and officially dedicated by Octavian on 28 August 29 BC.