Augustus

As · Bronze

RIC I² 159

Obverse

Heads of Agrippa (left) and Augustus (right) back to back Agrippa wearing combined rostral crown and laurel wreath and Augustus is laureate

Reverse

Crocodile chained to palm-shoot with short dense fronds and tip left: above on left a wreath with long ties

Historical Note

The chained crocodile commemorates Rome's conquest of Egypt in 30 BC. Egypt was the wealthiest province in the empire; its grain fed Rome and Augustus kept it as a personal domain, barring senators from entering without permission. The crocodile = Egypt; the palm = Roman victory. Struck at Nemausus (Nîmes) for Augustan veterans. The short dense fronds distinguish this from earlier variants in the series — a visual marker numismatists use to sequence the issues.