Octavian. Aureus 29-28 BC, Nicomedia or Nicaea. Bare head right / IMP CAESAR Victory facing, standing on globe and holding wreath and standard. 8,17g. Bahrfeldt 109; Calicó 205; Cohen 113; RIC 268. Nice extremely fine. Provenance: Sternberg 14 (24-25 May 1984), 250. Baldwin's & Münzen & Medaillen, New York sale III (7 December 2000), 609. Baron Lorne Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection. This aureus was struck during the very last years of the Roman Republic, when Octavian had just defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra, establishing himself as the master of Rome and consolidating his power after decades of civil war. The Victory on the reverse evokes his triumph, while her standing upon a globe alludes to his dominion over the world. It is therefore a representation of Octavian’s final victory, having overcome all his enemies and transformed the Mediterranean into Mare Nostrum. This aureus recalls an issue of denarii struck in 31–30 BC (RIC 254–255). However, on this aureus, Victory holds a vexillum, a military standard with a flag attached to the end of its pole. This particular representation has been identified as the same Victory that stood atop the pediment of the Curia Julia, the new Senate House commissioned by Caesar, whose construction began in 44 BC, shortly before his assassination, and which was not completed until after Actium. This aureus was issued to pay the veterans. Following the civil wars, around sixty Roman legions remained mobilised, representing an extraordinarily heavy burden for the state. Augustus therefore demobilised the majority of his legions and distributed substantial sums of money to more than 100,000 veterans. They also received land throughout the Empire, contributing to the Romanisation of certain regions as the soldiers brought with them Roman ways of life and values. In this way, they also helped to stabilise the Empire. With Octavian, a new era began after years of civil war: the Pax Romana. From a numismatic perspective, this also marked the beginning of a new era. From the first appearance of a living Roman on coinage, with Titus Quinctius Flamininus, to Octavian’s victory issues, Roman coinage had undergone a profound transformation. From this point onward, every gold, silver, or bronze coin would bear the image of the reigning emperor or a member of his family. What had begun as an exceptional and controversial practice under the Republic had now become the defining principle of the imperial monetary system. Coins had become a permanent vehicle for imperial power and political messaging.