Augustus

Denarius · Silver

Historical Note

The civic crown (corona civica) of oak leaves was traditionally awarded to a soldier who saved the life of a fellow citizen in battle. The Senate voted that Augustus should have the permanent right to display it over his door — an honour without precedent for a living individual. On coinage the oak-wreath appears both as the enclosing border for inscriptions and as a reverse type in its own right, associating Augustus with the role of protector of Roman citizens.