Augustus

Denarius · Silver

RIC I² 193A

Obverse

Head of Augustus, laureate, right

Reverse

Apollo standing right, holding plectrum in right hand and lyre in left hand

Historical Note

Apollo was Augustus's patron deity, associated with his victory at Actium in 31 BC and celebrated in the Temple of Apollo Palatinus dedicated in 28 BC. The rightward-facing Apollo with plectrum and lyre is the mirror variant of the leftward type — a compositional variant within the same Apollo Citharoedus series. Horace's Carmen Saeculare, performed at the Secular Games of 17 BC, was explicitly composed as a hymn to Apollo and Diana.