- Stock: Sold
- Model: Winged thunderbolt denarius
OCTAVIAN. Denarius (40 BC). Military mint traveling with Octavian in Italy; Q. Salvius, moneyer.
Obv: C CAESAR III VIR R P C.
Bare head right.
Rev: Q SALVIVS IMP COS DESIG.
Winged thunderbolt.
Crawford 523/1a; CRI 300.
Condition: Near very fine.
Weight: 4.04 g.
Diameter: 19 mm.
The type was struck by Salvidienus. It bears on the obverse the head of Octavianus, with legend which reminds the extraordinary magistracy of the triumvirate implies that IIIviri had to rem publicam constituere, to set the state to rights. The reverse seems to remind Quintus Salvius Salvidienus Rufus, boyhood friend of Octavianus, who after Philippi (42 BC) was made admiral and given command of six legions, being instructed to attack Sextus Pompeius in Sicily. At the end of the Bellum Perusinum (40 BC) Octavian sent him to Gallia as Governor with eleven legions. On this coin he is called Q. Salvius while ancient source recorded him as Q. Salvidienus, but the title of consul designatus allow to applies him this issue and probably the form of his name results from his being adopted by a Q.Salvius. Salvidienus proved to be unworthy of Octavian's trust and entered into secret negotiations with Antonius thinking that he would prevail, he wrote him offering to induce the troops in his province to desert from Octavian. His proposal came too late because Antonius, reconcilied to Octavianus handed him over to Octavian; he was condemned by the senate to death. Salvidienus was declared a hostis publicus and shortly he put end to his own life.
The Parthian kingdom had been a threat to Rome's eastern frontier for several decades before Augustus had become emperor, and in 53 BC three legionary eagles had been captured at the Battle of Carrhae, where the Romans suffered a crushing defeat under the command of Crassus. The loss of the legionary eagles was a source of great shame for Rome, but they were regained by Augustus following the success of his diplomacy with the Parthian king and this achievement is celebrated on the reverse type of the present piece.
The clipeus votivus, or votive shield, was an ancient custom and in his Aeneid Virgil relates that Aeneas dedicated a shield to Apollo Actius (V. 235). Given the Aeneid's prevalence as a propagandistic tale of Rome's founding, it is difficult to deny a connection between the importance of Actium to both Aeneas and Augustus, as well as the reference to Augustus' supposed line of descent from Aeneas, via his adoption by Julius Caesar.