Augustus, Silver Denarius, Diana, Ex Helmingham Hoard

Augustus (27 BC-14 AD), silver Denarius, Lugdunum, 15 BC, AVGVSTVS DIVI F, bare head of Augustus to right, rev. IMP X / SICIL, Diana standing front, head to right, holding spear in her right hand and bow in her left; to her lower right, dog standing left. (BMC 463. Cohen 146. RIC 173a). Ex Helmingham Hoard, Noonans 303 (18 September 2024) lot 199, very fine with a strong bust.

The Helmingham Hall hoard is a Roman British coin hoard found near the grounds of Helmingham Hall around Helmingham and Stowmarket, Suffolk, dating at latest to the reign of Claudius, during the Roman conquest of Britain in the year 47 AD. Discovered in 8 September 2019, with subsequent finds in 2020-2021, the hoard consist of 748 gold and silver denarii, a blend of Iron Age, Roman Republic, Triumvirate, and Roman Imperial currency, the largest of its time, ranging from the reign of Cunobeline to Claudius.

This type of Diana denarius is associated with Octavian's victory over Sextus Pompey at the Battle of Naulochus in Sicily in 36 BC. Sextus Pompey had controlled Sicily and threatened Rome's grain supplies. Octavian's general Marcus Agrippa won the decisive naval victory. Ancient tradition associated Diana with divine assistance in this success.

The obverse inscription AVGVSTVS DIVI F translates to "Augustus, son of the divine [Julius Caesar]"

The reverse inscription IMP X / SICIL translates to "Supreme Commander for the tenth time / Sicily."