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Beyond the Boundaries of Fantasia: An ancient imagining of the future of leadership

Step Four: What Type of Leader Was Augustus on Coinage? (1:30)

Now that we’ve particularly traced the development of living, leading figures on Late Republican coinage, we can start analysing representations of Augustus on his coins in detail.

What is your initial impression(s) of Octavian/Augustus as a leader?

Some general questions we will consider:

What type of different leadership roles do you see Augustus in on his coins?
Which role is predominant? Why do you think this is so?

One possible practical objective: to learn how to find a coin in any given numismatic catalogue, to be able to write a numismatic catalogue entry (i.e. full coin description), and to become familiar with numismatic catalogues on Roman “imperial” coinage -
BMCRE 1 - Mattingly, H. (1923) Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum. Vol. I: From Augustus to Vitellius, London.
RIC 12 - Sutherland, C.H.V. (1984) Roman Imperial Coinage. Vol. I: From 31 BC to AD 69, London.

First, we will look at some coins which depict full-length (or seated) figures of Octavian/Augustus on the reverses. Second, we will look at some coins which do not depict Octavian/Augustus on the reverses, but still reflect his role as a leader. Then, we will look at some obverse portraits and other titles of Octavian/Augustus.

Listening for Leadership
Possible Group Activity

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Listening for LeadershipPossible Group Activity

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Listening for Leadership
Possible Group Activity