The Roman Empire
Octavian as Augustus, 27 BC – 14 AD
Cistophoric tetradrachm, Pergamum (?) 27-26 BC, AR 12.03 g. IMP CAESAR Bare head r. Rev. AVGV – STVS Six bunched wheat-ears. C 32. BMC 699. Sutherland group IV, cf. 152a for the obverse and 148a for the reverse. RIC 494. CBN 955a. RPC 2212.
A bold portrait well struck in high relief and a wonderful
old cabinet tone. Good extremely fine Ex Triton sale XI, 2008, Prideaux, 679.

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.

The management of the grain supply for Rome was one of the biggest challenges facing Octavian, now Augustus. During the long civil war food was always at a premium and grain was a staple of the Roman diet. Although wheat, as shown on this reverse, was grown all over the empire, the primary sources were all on the southern side of the Mediterranean sea – particularly Egypt. As such, virtually all grain arriving in Rome had to be transported by ship. One of the accomplishments of Augustus during the war was the elimination of piracy and while this was important on many levels it was critical to the continual food supply arriving in Rome. Augustus makes mention of this accomplishment specifically in the first line of part 26 of his famous Res Gestae – list of accomplishments ”I restored peace to the sea from pirates”. MSG.