Both sides of an irregularly shaped silver-gray coin with relief decoration on each side.　
Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College
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Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College

On the side of the coin on the left is a man's head facing right, with short hair and full beard; surrounding the border, small dots and the characters: I M P / C A E S A R / D I V I / F / I I I / V I R / I T E R / R / P / C. The other side of the coin depicts from left to right; a ladle, a wand for sprinkling holy water, a jug, and a circularly curved staff; surrounding the border, small dots and the characters: C O S / I T E R / E T / T E R / D E S I G N.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
1979.267
People
Issued by Octavian, Roman (r. 27 BCE - 14 CE)
Title
Denarius of Octavian, Moving Mint
Classification
Coins
Work Type
coin
Date
37 BCE
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Moving Mint
Period
Roman Republican period
Culture
Roman Republican
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/183930

Location

Location
Level 3, Room 3700, Ancient Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Art, Roman Art
View this object's location on our interactive map

Physical Descriptions

Medium
silver
Metal
AR
Technique
Struck
Dimensions
3.69 g
Die Axis
2
Denomination
denarius
Inscriptions and Marks
  • Obverse Inscription: IMP CAESAR DIVI F III VIR ITER R P C
  • Reverse Inscription: COS ITER ET TER DESIGN

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

Standard Reference Number
RRC 538/1

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Professor Randall Thompson
Accession Year
1979
Object Number
1979.267
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Obv.: Head of Octavian bearded to r.; circle of dots
Rev.: simpulum aspergillum jug and lituus; circle of dots

Publication History

  • Kristin A. Mortimer and William G. Klingelhofer, Harvard University Art Museums: A Guide to the Collections, Harvard University Art Museums and Abbeville Press (Cambridge and New York, 1986), p. 119, no. 135, ill.

Exhibition History

  • Roman Gallery Installation (long-term), Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, 09/16/1999 - 01/20/2008
  • Gods in Color: Painted Sculpture of Classical Antiquity, Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, 09/22/2007 - 01/20/2008
  • 32Q: 3700 Roman, Harvard Art Museums, 11/16/2014 - 01/01/2050

Subjects and Contexts

  • Google Art Project

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu