Denarius of Augustus

His coin is a denarius of Augustus (27 BC to AD 14). On the obverse, facing right, is a bare head of the emperor and a legend that reads AVGVSTVS DIVI F.

On the reverse is the head of Genius Saeculari Novi facing right, with a four-rayed comet with tail above. On this side the legend reads M SANQVINIVS III VIR.

In volume I of David Sear’s Roman Coins and Their Values denarii of this type are listed as number 1621. Sear quotes A. A. Boyce in suggesting that the head on the reverse could be a personification of the ‘New Age’ ushered in by the new emperor.

Valuation

This is a rare coin, which, in terms of circulation wear, would grade good VF. However, from the images I received it is impossible to assess its surfaces. Does the coin have silver surfaces, which would add to its appeal, or are they a ‘dead’ grey colour? It is possible to have two examples of the same coin, both of exactly the same grade, but the appearance of one has more ‘eye appeal’ than the other.

Over the last few years a number of examples of Sear 1621 have been sold at auction; the average for VF has been around £2,500 and an EF example reached £4,200. What the example pictured here would fetch depends on what it looks like ‘in the flesh’ (so to speak).

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