Augustan Coins

Episode 2 focuses on Augustus, and how his coinage changed to reflect his victory in the civil war, his creation of the principate, his military victories and self-image as ‘father of the homeland’. Sam and James discuss coins from the early part of his reign, including a victory coin with wreath and palm, as augur and celebrating his triumph in Egypt, as well as those where he asserted his religious position as ‘divi filius’ and a civilian leader. The episode concludes with a discussion about Augustus’ succession problems. 

Sam Moorhead is a former staff lecturer in Archaeology at the British Museum, where he worked for over 25 years, including as National Finds Adviser for Ancient Coins in the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Between 2013 and 2022, he worked as the curator of ‘Rome: City and Empire’ a British Museum international touring exhibition and he is a widely published author on Roman archaeology and numismatics.