Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Augustus. Silver Denarius (3.77 g), 27 BC-AD 14. Lugdunum, 2 BC-AD 12. CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE, laureate head of Augustus right. Reverse C L CAESARES AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT, Gaius and Lucius Caesars, togate, standing facing, supporting between them on ground honorary shields and spears; above, lituus and simpulum turned inwards. RIC 210; Giard 85; BMC 540; RSC 43c. Well struck and perfectly centered with every letter complete. Excellent compact style. Attractive old cabinet toning with hints of iridescense. Rarely seen this choice!. Superb Extremely Fine.

Augustus formally adopted his two grandsons, Gaius and Lucius, the children of his friend and general M. Agrippa and his only child, his daughter Julia. Both were groomed as heirs, but neither survived him, Lucius dying in Gaul in AD 2 and Gaius in Lycia in AD 4. With their deaths Augustus was forced to look for another suitable candidate to succeed him, and selected his stepson, Tiberius.
Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000.
Ex Gemini V (6 January 2009), 255.