Augustus

Denarius · Silver

RIC I² 404

Obverse

Head of Augustus, bare, right; behind, lituus

Reverse

Julia, Gaius and Lucius Caesar, heads right, wreath central above

Historical Note

This portrait type showing Julia, Gaius, and Lucius Caesar together is among the most dynastic of all Augustan coin types. Julia was Augustus's daughter; Gaius and Lucius her sons by Agrippa, adopted by Augustus as his heirs. The shared portrait asserts the integrity of the Julio-Claudian succession. It was struck at a time — c. 13–12 BC — when Augustus was promoting his family as a dynasty, following his construction of the Ara Pacis and Agrippa's assumption of tribunician power.