Antoninus Pius, 138-161 CE
Stuck 159 CE
AR Denarius 17mm, 3.19g, 6h
Laureate head r.
Rev. TEMPLVM DIV AVG REST Octastyle temple, within which are the seated figures of Divus Augustus and Livia. Temple surmounted by quadriga; figures in pediment; Victories on angles; statue on base in front of temple at each corner. In ex., COS IIII
RIC 290a. C 804
Ex Akropolis Coins
The temple depicted on this coin confused me initially since there’s clearly statues of both Augustus and Livia inside, but the only known temple to both exists (still) in Vienne, France. However, this coin doesn’t depict that temple, but the Temple of Divus Augustus in Rome. Interestingly, from this coin (the original temple no longer exists), the two look very similar, at least to my untrained eyes.
Back in Roman times, and stretching back to the Greeks, it was not uncommon to deify an emperor. This even occurred during a ruler’s lifetime, but in the case of Augustus did not occur until after his death. People would literally come to worship him, like any other deity. The example in Rome was not the only temple to him. Similar ones were constructed across the empire.
Augustus died in 14 CE and the temple was started soon afterwards and completed and dedicated in 37 CE by Caligula. It is said that Tiberius was to finally enter Rome to dedicate it, but he died before he could set out.
The actual dedication was a bloody affair. Four hundred bears were slaughtered along with many other wild animals from Africa. Caligula also suspended all lawsuits (not a bad thing) and mourning periods so everyone could attend the opening, which was held in August particularly because that month was named after Augustus.
Under Claudius, Livia was also deified and added to the temple, which must have caused all kinds of grief for the deified Augustus who had been sipping martinis next to Mount Olympus all those years without her yapping.
Above the temple was a quadriga, I assume directed by Augustus. To the left was a statue of Romulus, and on the right was Aeneas leading his family out of Troy towards Rome. The two statues are clearly visible on my coin, while traces of the four horses of the quadriga are extant.
The temple was dismantled sometime after 218. No trace of it is visible today and its original site has not been excavated.