Artemide Aste s.r.l.
Auction XLVIII 2 Dec 2017
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Caius Caesar, son of Agrippa and Julia (died 4 AD). AE 15 mm. Laodicea ad Lycum mint, Phrygia. Anto Polemon philopatris, c.5 BC. Obv. ΓAIOΣ KAIΣAP. Bare head of Caius Caesar right. Rev. Eagle with wings spread, standing between two monograms ΠOΛE-ΦIΛOΠAT; below, ΛAOΔIKEΩ[N]. RPC 2900. SNG Cop. 577. BMC 154. SNG von Aulock 3838. AE. g. 3.28 RR. Very rare and superb, apparently among the finest known. Glossy dark green patina. About EF.
Caius Caesar, eldest son of Agrippa and Julia and grandson of Augustus, was born in 20 BC.
Both he and his younger brother Lucius were adopted by Augustus in 17 BC and it was clearly the emperor's hope that one or the other would eventually succeed him. In 5 BC Caius assumed the toga virilis, was admitted to the Senate, and was saluted as princeps iuventutis. Four years later he married Livilla, daughter of Nero Claudius Drusus and Antonia, and in 1 AD became consul while on an extended tour of the eastern frontier regions. During the course of this visit he became involved in military operations and was seriously wounded at the siege of Artagira in 2 AD. Eighteen months later, on his way back to Rome, he died in Lycia (21 February 4 AD). Tragically, his younger brother Lucius had also died two years previously, so the death of Caius left Tiberius, stepson of Augustus, as the only viable candidate for the imperial succession. The tragic loss of his grandsons was a blow from which the elderly Augustus never fully recovered.
(D.R.Sear, Roman Coins I, p.342).
Provenance:
Gorny & Mosch 191, lot 1819.
Caius Caesar, eldest son of Agrippa and Julia and grandson of Augustus, was born in 20 BC.
Both he and his younger brother Lucius were adopted by Augustus in 17 BC and it was clearly the emperor's hope that one or the other would eventually succeed him. In 5 BC Caius assumed the toga virilis, was admitted to the Senate, and was saluted as princeps iuventutis. Four years later he married Livilla, daughter of Nero Claudius Drusus and Antonia, and in 1 AD became consul while on an extended tour of the eastern frontier regions. During the course of this visit he became involved in military operations and was seriously wounded at the siege of Artagira in 2 AD. Eighteen months later, on his way back to Rome, he died in Lycia (21 February 4 AD). Tragically, his younger brother Lucius had also died two years previously, so the death of Caius left Tiberius, stepson of Augustus, as the only viable candidate for the imperial succession. The tragic loss of his grandsons was a blow from which the elderly Augustus never fully recovered.
(D.R.Sear, Roman Coins I, p.342).
Provenance:
Gorny & Mosch 191, lot 1819.