Octavian as Imperator, with Divus Julius Caesar
Vienna mint in Gaul
Ca 36 BCE
Ae Dupondius 29.5mm, 19.0g
Obv: Back-to-back bare heads of Divus Julius Caesar left and Octavian right; •IMP• above, CAESAR below, •DIVI•IVLI• to left and •DIVI•F to right
Rev: Prow of galley right with multi-tier superstructure and mast
RPC I 517
For some time I thought this referred to the famous Vienna, Austria, but I now realize it’s a different city, today’s Vienne, France, located about 35 kilometers south of Lyon.
In 47 BCE, Vienna was founded by Julius Caesar at the capital of the Allobroges tribe. Soon after he left, though, they expelled the Roman colonists, who went on to found Lugdunum, the modern day city of Lyon. Many of the ruins of the ancient city remain, including several aqueducts, a Temple of Augustus and Livia, and a building ordered by Claudius. The Roman theater also remains.
This particular coin is among the earliest to depict a living emperor with a deified one.
47 BCE
Vienna founded by Julius Caesar
260 CE
Postumus proclaimed the Gallic Emperor at Vienna