The election of Augustus
Text: IVRAVIT IN MEA VERBA TOTA ITALIA ET ME DUCEM DEPOPOSCIT
The whole of Italy took an oath of allegiance to me and demanded that I should be the leader
Extract from Mon.Anc. 25:
Iuravit in mea verba tota Italia sponte sua et me belli, quo vici ad Actium ducem depoposcit.
The whole of Italy of its own accord took an oath of allegiance to me and demanded that I should be the leader (dux) in the war which I won at Actium.
Prima Porta statue. Beneath hands that hails him.
The titel "dux" was never used by Augustus, but the titel "Pater patriae" (Father of the country). He was also the first man, not only in the Senate (princeps senatus), but also among the citizens (princeps civitatis). By omitting important passages from Monumentum Ancyranum the stamp suggests that Augustus was elected "dux", like Mussolini.
Michel 581, Sassone 421, AFA 513
Date of issue: 1937
Face value: 50 c.
Date created: 22/03/00 11:41:49