Augustus

Denarius · Silver

RIC I² 208

Obverse

Head of Augustus, laureate, right

Reverse

Gaius and Lucius Caesar standing, each, togate, resting hand on shield and spear, simpulum, left, and lituus, right, flanking, left and right respectively

Historical Note

Gaius Caesar (born 20 BC) and Lucius Caesar (born 17 BC) were Augustus's grandsons, adopted as his sons and designated joint heirs — principes iuventutis ('princes of youth'). This is the most widely produced coin series of Augustus's reign, struck at the Lugdunum (Lyon) mint from c. 2 BC. The shields and spears represent their military roles; the simpulum (sacrificial ladle) and lituus (augural staff) their priestly offices. On this variant, the simpulum appears on the left and the lituus on the right. Both princes died young — Lucius in AD 2 at Massalia, Gaius in AD 4 in Asia — forcing Augustus to adopt Tiberius as his successor.