aureus of octavian (coins)

context?

• 43BC, battle of mutina. octavian has been asked to aid the consuls against M.A but was refused a triumph at the end of the battle (therefore cannot wear a laurel wreath)

content?

• octavian: youthful

• julius: old

military?

• octavian: no wreath because of no triumph but also looks humble

• julius: wreath suggests great military victor

political?

• octavian: consul, a temporary position for 1 year, makes it look like a restoration of republican offices

• julius: dictator for life; taking it for life upset the senators

religious?

• octavian: augur (priest) so normal title for roman nobles

• julius: pontifex maximus (high priest, held for life) in 43BC, this title was held by lepidus and octavian allowed him to keep the title until he died in 13BC

audience?

senators or richer members of society

image?

octavian uses the image of J.C as he needed to be popular with armies. he did not want to upset the senators so he styles himself in the republican tradition of augur and consul