Ancient Rome - 27 BCE-14 CE Augustus AR Denarius NGC Choice XF

Augustus AR Denarius graded NGC Choice XF. Struck at Lugdunum (Lyon, France) mint. Obverse: laureate head of Augustus facing right. CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE. Reverse: Gaius Caesar and Lucius Caesar standing facing each other and resting hands on their shields. Behind each shield is a spear above on left. Simpulum to right and on right. Lituus to the left. AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT. In exergue, C L CAESARES. Rich even golden brown patina on both sides. RIC I 207. BMCRE 519. Lyon 82. RSC 43.  

A bust of Augustus as a younger Octavian, dated ca. 30 BC. Capitoline Museums, Rome.     

Augustus wanted to accomplish much more than to mold Rome into an empire. He also had a great desire to provide successors. Since he had no sons, he had to find or arrange the fathering of heirs to the throne. To that end, Augustus his lieutenant and friend Agrippa marry his daughter Julia; he fathered two sons with her before he died in 12 BC. Those sons were Gaius Caesar and Lucius Caesar. It was in the year 17 BC that Augustus formally adopted these two grandsons.

He then ordered his stepson Tiberius to divorce his wife and marry the widowed Julia, therefore serving as regent to Gaius and Lucius. Tiberius resented this intrusion upon his personal life, but had no choice but to obey Augustus. The two boys grew up wealthy and famous, taught by Rome's finest teachers and seeing their images honored upon temples, statues, and coins. However, neither Gaius or Lucius would take their grandfather's throne. It was in the year 2 AD that Lucius suddenly fell ill and died. The following year saw Gaius injured on campaign and then died. Augustus found himself with no heirs, and he and the nascent empire contemplated its uncertain future. Even though the coin was struck circa 2 BC-4 CE, it is possible that this coin was struck to honor Augustus' two grandsons after their untimely deaths.