The social structure of ancient Rome was based on heredity, property, ... Over time, the Senate would be open to Roman citizens from outside Italy. By the end of the first century, ...

The coin is "very rare" and bears imagery "associated with Augustus' symbolic transfer of power back to the Roman Senate after his defeat of Mark Antony" in 31 B.C., according to the auction house.

The Roman Senate started life as an advisory council, filled entirely with patricians. In the last two centuries of the republic, however, it had become much more powerful and a major player in ...