Roman Empire. Augustus (27 BC-AD 14). Denarius Lugdunum, 11 BC - Diana

This denarius from the reign of Augustus (27 BC-AD 14), minted in Lugdunum (modern Lyon, France) in 11 BC, depicts the goddess Diana, associated with the moon, hunting, and chastity. Augustus, Rome’s first emperor, initiated a vast coinage reform promoting imperial ideology and Rome's peace (Pax Romana). Coins featuring deities like Diana emphasized traditional Roman values and augured divine favor on Augustus's rule. The Lugdunum mint was vital for producing coins serving provinces in Gaul and beyond. Such coins embody the blend of religious imagery and political messaging characteristic of Augustan propaganda, making them prized by collectors interested in the birth of the Roman Empire and its visual culture.