Augustus

Denarius · Silver

RIC I² 252

Obverse

Head of Octavian, bare, right

Reverse

Pax, draped, standing left, holding olive-branch in right and cornucopia in left

Historical Note

Pax (Peace) with olive-branch and cornucopia represents the Pax Augusta — the peace Augustus proclaimed he had established after a century of Roman civil and foreign wars. The closure of the Temple of Janus in 29 BC, signifying the end of all active Roman wars, was one of Augustus's most celebrated acts. The cornucopia beside the olive-branch connects peace with abundance — the two defining promises of his principate.