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                             Octavian's trophy

In his new work on the coinage of the Imperatorial period, David Sear
associates the portrait of Octavian on this coin with Apollo. He
further claims that the evidence suggests that the column on the
reverse can be identified with the Actian column decreed by the Senate in
honor of Octavian's victory over the forces of Antony and Cleopatra at
Actium in 31 BC.

Octavian. 29-27 BC. AR Denarius (3.98 gm). Bare head right / IMP CAESAR,
trophy of armor with spear and shield mounted on prow of galley with anchor
and rudder. RIC I 265a; Sear 423; BMCRE 4352; RSC 119. Beautifully toned,
superb EF.

From Triton II (CNG/Freeman & Sear/NAC, 1-2 December 1998), lot 745,
realized $4830 with buyer's fee.

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