roman-empire-c-28-bc-ad-41-period-of-copy-s-creation-item
Image: Sussex Archaeological Society, Laura Burnett, 2010-08-18 10:37:08 (CC BY-SA 2.0)
DenominationDenarius
Country / EmpireRoman Empire
Obverse DesignConflated portraits of Julius Caesar (from his lifetime and the Augustan age) and Octavian/Augustus.
Reverse DesignAEGVPTO (or AEGVPT) CAPTA type, originally minted by Octavian (Augustus) in 28-27 BC, commemorating the conquest of Egypt.
Historical Context
This coin is a Roman contemporary (or possibly later fantasy) forgery of a silver denarius. It is notable for conflating design elements from different historical periods and rulers: the obverse combines portraits of Julius Caesar with the reverse type of Octavian (later Augustus) commemorating the conquest of Egypt ('AEGVPTO CAPTA'), originally minted in 28-27 BC. This copy must therefore post-date 28-27 BC and was created before AD 41. Such copies were often made for circulation alongside official coinage, or as unofficial commemorative pieces.
