An Elizabeth II eighteen-karat gold bowl and spoon, maker's mark HH in script, Sheffield, 1979

bowl of tapered circular form, reeded edge, stepped spreading foot, engraved around the rim Imperium Romanum - 29BC, numbered 1/50, in fitted case together with the spoon, its bowl suspended from a bar handle

In August of 29BC, following his victory at Actium the previous year, Augustus was granted the title of 'Imperator,' and he ordered the doors of the Temple of Janus to be closed. Only twice before in Roman history had this been done; their closing signified that the Empire was at peace. The event is commemorated in the coin reproduced on the cover of the case of this lot, the inscription of which reads PACE PR TERRA MARIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT, or 'The Peace of the Roman People having been established on land and sea, he closed [the Temple of] Janus.'