Denarius of Augustus
Date2 BCE - 4 CE
PeriodRoman Empire
Place MadeLugdunum (Lyon), France, Europe
MediumSilver
Dimensions21.50 mm, 3.64 g
Credit LineGift of Drs. John and Bessie Sawhill
Object number2024.1.21
On View
Not on viewCollections
DescriptionObverse: Head of Augustus, laureate, right; CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE around
Reverse: Gaius and Lucius Caesar standing, each, togate, resting hand on shield and spear, simpulum, left, and lituus, right, flanking, right and left respectively; C L CAESARES AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT around
RIC I 210; BMCRE I 540 (Plate 14, 3) pg.91
NotesMinted by Augustus to honor and bring into the public eye his grandsons, Caius and Lucius, as chosen successors. Both were sons of his daughter, Julia (from second marriage to Scribonia), and his trusted advisor/friend Agrippa (who built the Pantheon).
Having formed the Principate, Augustus was obsessed with establishing a trusted succession. He had no children of his own so he adopted Caius and Lucius as his own and raised them in his house with Livia (see Plutarch and Suetonius). Tragically, both youths died and Augustus was forced to marry his daughter Julia to Tiberius (Livia’s son from first marriage) as heir. Suetonius writes that Augustus’ will stated: “Since a cruel fate has bereft me of my sons Gaius and Lucius, be Tiberius Caesar heir to two-thirds of my estate.” (Tiberius 23)
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