Augustus 27 BC-14 AD - AV Aureus - RIC-513

Augustus 27 BC-14 AD
AV Aureus 19-18 BC, Pergamum, Mysia
Obv. AVGVSTVS
Head of Augustus, bare, left.
Rev. ARMENIA CAPTA
Sphinx seated right.
RIC-513

Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Münzkabinett RÖ4659 21mm, 7.89g, 1h

E. A. Sydenham "Historical References to Coins of the Roman Empire" London, 1968, pp. 20

For some years there had been considerable unrest in Armenia under the regime of Artaxias, and a petition was sent to Augustus to the effect that Tigranes, the brother of Artaxias, should be appointed as ruler. The conduct of affairs was entrusted to Tiberius, but while he and Tigranes were on their way to Armenia, Artaxias was murdered by his subjects. Armenia was consequently occupied by Tiberius without difficulty. This conquest, as it was officially termed, was regarded as a triumph second only to the recovery of the standards, and in the year 19 B.C., Augustus entered Rome in triumph.