Ira and Larry Goldberg Auctioneers
Auction 104 12-13 Jun 2018
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Augustus. Gold Aureus (7.88g), 27 BC-AD 14. Lugdunum (Lyon), 2 BC-AD 4. CAESAR AVGVSTVS - DIVI F PATER PATRIAE, laureate head of Augustus right. Reverse: AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT, Gaius and Lucius Caesars, both togate, standing facing and resting hands on shield; behind each, shield and spear; above, simpulum and lituus; in exergue, CL CAESARES. RIC 206. BMCRE 513. Calicó 176a. A few tiny surface marks, mostly confined to reverse fields, otherwise well centered with complete legends and a pleasing aureus depicting Rome's first and greatest emperor. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $4,000 - 4,500
Midway into his long reign, Augustus began to think about the issue of succession to the office of Emperor he had created. His hopes soon settled on the young Gaius and Lucius Caesars, his grandsons via his daughter Julia's marriage to his close friend and partner Marcus Agrippa. Gaius was born in 20 BC and Lucius three years later. Augustus formally adopted them both and gave them an accelerated progress up the ladder of public offices. Alas, both youths suffered untimely ends. Lucius fell ill during a state visit to Gaul and died at Massalia in AD 2; two years later, Gaius was wounded in battle with the Parthians on the eastern frontier and died in Lycia. Augustus was thus forced to "settle" for his stepson, Tiberius, his eventual successor.
Midway into his long reign, Augustus began to think about the issue of succession to the office of Emperor he had created. His hopes soon settled on the young Gaius and Lucius Caesars, his grandsons via his daughter Julia's marriage to his close friend and partner Marcus Agrippa. Gaius was born in 20 BC and Lucius three years later. Augustus formally adopted them both and gave them an accelerated progress up the ladder of public offices. Alas, both youths suffered untimely ends. Lucius fell ill during a state visit to Gaul and died at Massalia in AD 2; two years later, Gaius was wounded in battle with the Parthians on the eastern frontier and died in Lycia. Augustus was thus forced to "settle" for his stepson, Tiberius, his eventual successor.