Ancient Rome - 27-26 BCE Augustus (Octavian) AR Cistophorus NGC AU★ in Fine Style

“A fabulous portrait of Augustus probably engraved by the master at the mint. It would be hard to find Augustus rendered more delicately than here.”--MSG

Augustus. Silver Cistophorus (12.07 g), 27 BC-AD 14. Pergamum mint, circa 27/26 BC. Obverse: IMP CAESAR, bare head of Augustus facing to the right. Reverse: AVGV-STVS, bundle of six ears of grain. Sources: RIC 494; Sutherland grp. IV; RPC 2212; BMC 699; RSC 32a. A remarkable example of fine style. A bold portrait struck in high relief and exhibiting wonderful old cabinet toning. NGC grade AU★; Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5.

A bread stall from a Pompeiian wall painting. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

One of the biggest challenges facing Octavian (later Augustus) was managing the grain supply for Rome. Grain was a staple of the Roman diet and during the long Civil War food was always at a premium. Even though wheat, as depicted on the reverse of this coin, was grown throughout the empire, the most important sources were on the southern side of the Mediterranean Sea—especially Egypt.

Therefore, the great majority of grain arriving in Rome had to be carried via ship. One of Augustus’s great accomplishments during the war was the eradication of piracy, which was crucial to ensuring a steady food supply to Rome. Augustus discusses this accomplishment in the first line of part 26 of his famous Res Gestae – list of accomplishments: "I restored peace to the sea from pirates"--MSG.