Coin from the Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney, NM2004.2545. Scanned by Madeline Robinson.
A silver denarius showing Gaius and Lucius Caesar as the heirs of Augustus, struck c. 2 BC to AD 4 at the mint of Lugdunum (modern day Lyon).
Gaius and Lucius
1. Gaius and Lucius Caesar The reverse of this coin shows Gaius and Lucius Caesar, who were adopted by Augustus and became his heirs. They are both shown wearing togas. Coinage was one way to communicate who would succeed Augustus: Roman gold and silver coinage carried ONLY this design from 8 BC to AD 13.
2. Shields and Spears Both Gaius and Lucius are shown with the shields and spears voted to them by the equestrian order. The Res Gestae of Augustus (14.1) tells us the equestrians hailed Gaius and Lucius “as leader of the youth, and honoured them with silver shields and spears”.
3. Simpulum This simpulum (a ladle used to make libations during sacrifices) represents Gaius Caesar’s position as a priest or pontifex.
4. Lituus The lituus (curved staff) is here to symbolise Lucius Caesar’s position as an augur, another type of priest in Rome.
5. Legend The writing or legend on this side of the coin reads C L CAESARES AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT. The wording names Gaius (C) and Lucius (L) Caesar, and names them as the sons of Augustus (AVGVSTI F), consuls designate (COS DESIGN) as well as leaders of the youth (PRINC IVVENT).
Augustus
6. August This ‘heads’ or ‘obverse’ of the coin shows a portrait of Augustus wearing a laurel wreath.
7. Legend The writing or legend on the obverse reads CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE = Caesar Augustus, son of the god, father of his country.
8. Monument in minature As a monument in miniature intended to communicate the heirs of Augustus, this coin and others succeeded. MANY coins of this design were made and they circulated throughout the Roman world. Cities in the provinces put Gaius and Lucius on their local currencies. Of course, both Gaius and Lucius died before they could become emperor. But Tiberius only appears on coinage in AD 13! Why would it take so long for the Roman government to make this change?
Reference
The scholarly reference for this coin is RIC I (second edition) Augustus 207.
