Augustus

Denarius · Silver

RIC I² 211

Obverse

Head of Augustus, laureate, right

Reverse

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

Historical Note

Gaius Caesar (born 20 BC) and Lucius Caesar (born 17 BC) were Augustus's grandsons and designated joint heirs. The simpulum (sacrificial ladle) and lituus (augural staff) represent their priestly roles; the shields and spears their military positions. On this variant, the simpulum appears on the right and the lituus on the left — the mirror arrangement of the more common type. Such variants help date different striking episodes within the Lugdunum mint's long production of this series.