Coinage

Question 1

What does the ‘bare head of Octavian and standing Pax’ show?

Answer 1

Obverse is bare head of Octavian
Reverse is Pax standing left holding olive branch and cornucopia

Question 2

When was the ‘bare head of Octavian and standing Pax’ minted?

Answer 2

32-29BC

Question 3

Where was the ‘bare head of Octavian and standing Pax’ minted?

Answer 3

Unknown Italian mint

Question 4

What does the ‘bare head of Octavian and standing Pax’ say and what does it mean?

Answer 4

Caesar Divi F.
Caesar, son of a God

Question 5

What are the distinguishing features of the ‘bare head of Octavian and standing Pax’ ‘s obverse?

Answer 5

No legend
Octavian showing no emotions
Octavian’s bare head

Question 6

What does the lack of legend on the ‘bare head of Octavian and standing Pax’ obverse suggest?

Answer 6

• It matches the denarius’ partner coin, which further aligns him with divinity
• Hints at Octavian’s ubiquity, and at him being easily recognisable

Question 7

What does Octavian’s lack of emotions on ‘bare head of Octavian and standing Pax’ show?

Answer 7

• Shows his stoicism- a good Roman value, showing he has control over himself and his emotions (unlike Antony..)

Question 8

What does Octavian’s bare head on ‘bare head of Octavian and standing Pax’ show?

Answer 8

He has no triumphs yet
- Potential reminder of his young age, as he hasn’t fought in enough battles to have a triumph, but he has still somehow managed to become consul against the rules of the cursus honorum

Question 9

What are the distinguishing features of the reverse of ‘bare head of Octavian and standing Pax’?

Answer 9

• Pax, the Goddess of peace pictured
• Pax holding cornucopia
• Divi F. legend
• Caesar name legend

Question 10

What could the presence of Pax on ‘bare head of Octavian and standing Pax’ suggest?

Answer 10

• Could be seen as a key justification for the currently ongoing civil conflict
• Presence of Pax could suggest at Octavian being her chosen champion, and suggests at his promise for lasting peace, which would appeal to the concerns of Romans due to the curse of civil war from Romulus killing Remus

Question 11

What could the cornucopia on ‘bare head of Octavian and standing Pax’ suggest?

Answer 11

A symbol of Pax, that alludes to fertility and natural bounty

Question 12

What could Divi F. and Caesar name suggest on ‘bare head of Octavian and standing Pax’?

Answer 12

• Divi F. reinforces Octavian’s link to divinity
• Him as being Caesar’s son reminds viewers of his inheritance of Caeasr’s political legacy and his populares supporters
• Caesar name could remind viewers of Caesar’s military conquests (such as those in Gaul), of his religious role (as Pontifex Maximus), of his connections to the founding story of Rome (descended from Romulus and Aeneas) and of his perpetual dictatorship and consequent assassination for tyranny

Question 13

What could the Caesar name suggest on ‘bare head of Octavian and standing Pax’?

Answer 13

• Caesar name could remind viewers of Caesar’s military conquests (such as those in Gaul),

-his religious role (as Pontifex Maximus)

• his connections to the founding story of Rome (descended from Romulus and Aeneas)
• his perpetual dictatorship and consequent assassination for tyranny

Question 14

When was the aureus of bare headed octavian and caesar with laurel wreath made?

Answer 14

43BC
- this was just after Octavian was appointed as consul, so he would have recently defeated Antony’s forces