Augustus

Denarius · Silver

RIC I² 545

Obverse

Head of Augustus, bare, right; below neck, small capricorn, right

Reverse

Crocodile standing right

Historical Note

The standing crocodile, without the palm-shoot of the Nemausus series, is a simpler Egypt-conquest motif. The crocodile was the emblem of Roman Egypt, appearing also on the AEGYPTO CAPTA coinage. Egypt's conquest in 30 BC gave Augustus vast personal wealth and a grain monopoly that secured his political position.