coin

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Object Type
Museum number: 1920,0325.5
Denomination: aureus
Description: Gold coin. (whole); Head of Augustus, laureate, right. (obverse); Gaius and Lucius Caesar, on left and right, standing front, each togate and resting hand on shield; behind each shield, a spear; above, lituus right (on left) and simpulum left (on right). (reverse)
State
Authority
Cultures/periods
Production date: 2BC-4
Production place: Minted in: Lugdunum
Materials
Dimensions: Die-axis: 5 o'clock; Weight: 7.84 grammes
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: Augustus was accorded the honorific title "pater patriae" in 2 BC. Gaius and Lucius, the emperor's grandsons, were regarded as his heirs and to them the title "princeps iuventutis" was given (the first use of the title that came to denote the heir apparent).
Bibliographic references: RE1 / Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, vol. 1: Augustus to Vitellius (539, p.90); RIC1 / The Roman Imperial Coinage, vol. 1 (209, p.56)
Location: Not on display
Subjects: emperor/empress; royal/imperial; arms/armour
Associated names: Named in inscription & portrayed: Augustus (Octavian); Named in inscription & portrayed: Gaius Caesar; Named in inscription & portrayed: Lucius Caesar
Acquisition name
Acquisition date: 1920
Department: Coins and Medals
Registration number: 1920,0325.5
C&M catalogue number: RE1 (90) (539)

Free entry