AUGUSTUS & AGRIPPA. Æ As (26 mm, 12,25 g). Nemausus (Nîmes), 8/9-3 BC
A/ IMP DIVI F, heads of Agrippa to left and Augustus to right, back to back, that of Agrippa wearing combined rostral crown and laurel wreath, that of Augustus bare / Palm-shoot behind chained crocodile; to left and right of palm-shoot, wreath with long ties..
R/ COL NEM, crocodile chained to palm tree, wreath with long ties in left field, two further palm branches below crocodile.
RIC 155, RPC 523
Very Fine, nice green and red patina, some smoothing
An interesting interpretation sees the crocodile as an animalized transposition of a ship's prow, as depicted on the reverse of Republican asses, and notably on coins from other cities such as Lugdunum (Lyon), Vienna (Vienne), Arausio (Orange), and Narbo (Narbonne), in the frame of the victory of Actium, many veterans from this battle with many veterans of this battle settled in Nemausus.