15-10 BC., Augustus, Lugdunum mint, Æ As, RIC 230 var.

Augustus, Lugdunum mint (Lyon), 15-10 BC.,
Æ As (23-24 mm / 7,83 g),
Obv.: CA[E]SA[R] - [PONT MAX] , laureate head of Augustus right; on head double struck countermark: AVG within quadrilateral incuse (Martini Pangerl Collection nos. 8, 9, 10, 40, 41, 59, 75, 76, 83, 113, 114).
Rev.: RO[M ET AVG] , front elevation of the Roma-Augustus-Altar of Lugdunum, decorated with the corona civica between laurels, flanked by nude male figures; to left and right, Victories on columns, facing one another.
RIC I 230 var. ; BMC 550 var. ; CBN 1485 var. ; Coh. 209 var. ; for countermark: Martini Pangerl Collection nos. 8, 9, 10, 40, 41, 59, 75, 76, 83, 113, 114.
The low weight and surface of this coin show what can happen after 2000 years in fertilized surface soil plus acid rain.

The ountermark "AVC" is relatively unspecific and is likely used since ca. 15 BC well into the Tiberian period. It occus from Gallia to the lower Rhine to the lower Danube region. Shapes and sizes vary however and allow sometimes a more specific attribution.

The reverse of this coin features the celebrated Altar of Lugdunum which had been dedicated by Augustus on August 1st, 10 BC.

Am 1. August jeden Jahres feierten die 60 civitates der drei Gallien an diesem Altar ein Fest, mit dem sie ihre Reichstreue bestätigten. Der Altar war im Jahre 12 v. Chr. von Drusus errichtet worden.