Obverse: bare head of Augustus facing left. Reverse: bird's-eye view of the city of Emerita with gateway featuring two doors and three battlements in front, surrounded by walls.

**Obverse context.** Augustus, founder of the Roman principate, had received that honorific title from the Senate in 27 BC, shortly before this issue was struck during his Spanish campaigns against the Cantabri and Astures.

**Reverse context.** Emerita Augusta, modern Mérida, was founded around 25 BC by Publius Carisius, Augustus's legate in Lusitania, as a colony for veterans of the Cantabrian wars, and the walled city shown here advertises that act of foundation.

**Obverse legend translation.** IMP CAESAR AVGVST expands to *Imperator Caesar Augustus*, "Commander Caesar Augustus," the formal style adopted by Octavian after 27 BC.

**Reverse legend translation.** P CARISI VS LEG PRO PR, EMERITA expands to *Publius Carisius Legatus Pro Praetore, Emerita*, naming Publius Carisius as propraetorian legate and identifying the colony of Emerita that he founded on Augustus's behalf.

Toned with banker's mark on obverse and a couple of edge test cuts on reverse.

Well struck on a large round planchet, toned


4/3/24	$225	F	CNG	— 0%
1/11/23	$7,500	XF	CNG	— 0%
1/6/12	$7,080	O	Stack's Bowers	— 0%

Denarius of AugustusRIC I 9b

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