Denarius of Augustus and sacrificial implements

Question 1

What is on the obverse of this denarius?

Answer 1

Bareheaded portrait of Augustus

Question 2

What is on the reverse of this denarius?

Answer 2

Sacrificial implements above tripod and patera

Question 3

When was this coin made?

Answer 3

12BC

Question 4

Who was the coin struck by?

Answer 4

Caius Antinius Reginus, Mint of Rome

Question 5

What does the legend read?

Answer 5

CAESAR AVGVSTVS // C ANTISVIVS REGINVS III VIR

Question 6

What does the legend translate to?

Answer 6

Caesar Augustus // Caius Antinius Reginus Triumvir

Question 7

What is the overall significance of this denarius?

Answer 7

Reinforces the connection between Augustus and state religion

Question 8

What does the obverse suggest of Augustus?

Answer 8

• He’s involved in Roman religion
• He’s unifying the state, through the unification of different sacrificial instruments

Question 9

How is Augustus pictured, and why is this significant?

Answer 9

He’s still pictured as a young man, despite him being 51 in 12BC

• This could be to encourage a comparison to Apollo, as he was always depicted as a young man
• Also could have been to discourage the idea that he was old and weak

Question 10

What are the sacrificial implements on the reverse?

Answer 10

Bottom:

Tripod (left)
- Religious furniture used for offerings

Patera (right)
- Libation bowl

Top:

Simpulum (left)
- Used for libations

Lituus (right)
- Curved wand used by Augurs and was a symbol of that college of priests