Augustus, with Agrippa. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.83 g, 9h). Rome mint; C. Sulpicius Platorinus, moneyer. Struck 13 BC. CAESAR AVGVSTVS, bare head of Augustus right / M • AGRIPPA PLATORINVS III VIR, bare head of Agrippa right. RIC I 408; RSC 3 (Agrippa and Augustus); BMCRE 112-4 = BMCRR Rome 4654-6; BN 533-5; Mazzini 3 (Agrippa and Augustus). Toned, bankers' marks on obverse and reverse, edge tests and marks. VF. Rare.
From the Peter J. Merani Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 45 (18 March 1998), lot 1846; Classical Numismatic Review XXII.2 (Spring/Summer 1997), no. 27.
Marcus Agrippa was Augustus' boyhood friend, lieutenant and and eventual chosen heir, adopted by the emperor in 17 BC to ensure a smooth succession. Agrippa's prominence in political affairs was emphasized in 13 BC, when two of the three moneyers included Agrippa on their coin types. Succession was not to be, however, as Agrippa died the following year.