Description:
This coin was minted during the rule of Caesar Augustus in the Hellenistic city of Sardes, an ancient city of great importance, located at a strategic road junction in the Hermos river valley, in present day western-Turkey. Sardes was the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Lydia and in early Christianity was one of the Seven Churches of Asia. The obverse side of this coin shows the head of Caesar Augustus and the reverse depicts the god Zeus standing while holding an eagle and a staff.
Caesar Augustus was the first emperor of the Roman Empire from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD. Augustus is remembered as Rome's greatest emperor. His great power stemmed from the loyalty of the military, the respect of the people and large financial resources. This eliminated any opposition from the Senate and the Roman Republic soon became the Roman Empire. Augustus enlarged the empire dramatically, reformed the tax system, built roads with a courier system, established a standing army and created police and fire-fighting services for Rome.
The reign of Augustus also began an era of relative peace known as the Pax Romana, which would last more than 200 years. Upon his death in AD 14, Augustus was declared a god by the Senate, to be worshipped by the Romans. His names Augustus and Caesar were adopted by every subsequent emperor and the month of August was named in his honor. Augustus laid the foundation for the empire that lasted for 1500 years until the Fall of Constantinople in 1453.
