The Caesar and the Crocodile: how to 'read' an Augustan coin

Roman coins were a lot like modern day newspapers. Learn how to ‘read’ an ancient Roman coin and discover what it reveals about historical events.

Gold Augustus (Octavian) coin. Minted 27BCE. Image via the British Museum

Coins in ancient Rome were, in some ways, similar to modern-day newspapers. The obverse (front) of the coin often depicted the head of the current emperor while the image on the reverse (back) was often used by the emperor to promote important information about public programs or remind Roman citizens of his military victories.

The obverse of this coin depicts an image of the Emperor Augustus and the Latin inscription CAESAR.DIVI.F COS.VII which can be translated to “Caesar [Augustus], son of the divine emperor [Julius Caesar], consul for the seventh time”. This inscription, refers to Augustus’ adoptive father Julius Caesar, and tells us that it was probably minted (designed and produced) in 27 BCE because this was Augustus’ seventh year as consul (the highest position in Roman government). 27 BCE was also the year that Augustus, whose birth name is Octavian, received the title “Augustus”, meaning venerable or great.

Bust of Octavian (Augustus) c30BCE. Capitoline Museums, Rome. Image via Wikicommons

Four years prior, in 31 BCE, Augustus fought against his former friend Mark Antony and Antony’s lover, Cleopatra who was the Queen of Egypt and the last active Greek pharaoh, at the Battle of Actium. This conflict raged between the West (Rome), which was Augustus’ portion of the Roman Empire, and the East (Egypt), which was under Mark Antony’s command. Augustus’ victory in this battle meant that all of Egypt became part of the Roman Empire and by removing Mark Antony, who was his political rival, Augustus was now able to become the Emperor of Rome.

This Roman period box despicts a king making an offering to a solar form of Sobek. Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Image via Wikicommons

The reverse of this coin depicts an image of a crocodile, the symbol of Egypt, with an inscription in Latin which can be translated to 'The Conquest of Egypt'. Crocodiles in ancient Egypt were both respected and feared. The symbology of crocodiles often referenced Sobek, an Egyptian deity with the body of a human and the head of a crocodile who was associated with pharaonic power, the military and fertility. The inscription on this side reads AEGVPT CAPTA which translates to Egypt Captured. By adding the crocodile in this context, the coin celebrates the Roman domination of Egypt and Augustus' personal role in the conquest.

Reading these two sides together suggests that this coin was minted when Octavian took on the title of Augustus in order to commemorate his earlier victory, and remind people through the ages of his status and power. 

Until next time,

λεῖος πλόος!

Written by Evyn Swan

Hellenic Museum Intern

University of Melbourne

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