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Very rare Gold Aureus of Augustus

1195

Augustus, 27 BC-14 AD. Gold Aureus (7.81g). Mint of Lugdunum 8 BC. AVGVSTVS – DIVI F Laureate

head right. Rev. Augustus, togate, seated left. on stool on platform, extending right. hand to infant held out

by cloaked male figure; in exergue, IMP XIIII.

Very rare

. About very fine.

$ 8,000

The type of barbarian offering child to Augustus probably refers to the taking of hostages from German tribes during the campaigns

of 8 BC (Mattingly, BMC I, p. cxvi).

1196

Divus Augustus. Silver Antoninianus (4.16 g), died AD 14. Rome, commemorative issue under Trajan

Decius, AD 250/1. DIVO AVGVSTO, radiate head of Augustus right. Rev. CONSE-CRATIO, altar. (RIC

78; RSC -). Cabinet toning. Choice very fine.

$ 750

Highly Desirable Gold Aureus of Tiberius

1197

Tiberius. Gold Aureus (7.95 g), AD 14-37. Lugdunum, AD 14/5. TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS,

laureate head of Tiberius right. Rev. TR POT XVI IMP VII, the emperor in slow quadriga right, holding

laurel-branch and an eagle-tipped scepter. (RIC 1; BMC 1; Calicó 307).

Rare first issue.

Slightly off-center on

reverse. Choice very fine.

$ 9,500

ex Archer M. Huntington Collection

The reverse of this aureus emphasizes the legitimacy of Tiberius as the chosen heir of Augustus and rightful second emperor of the

Julio-Claudian house. He appears in a quadriga holding a laurel branch and the eagle-tipped consular scepter in the role of the

triumphator. This can only refer to the triumph that Tiberius celebrated in AD 12 upon the successful completion of his campaigns

in Pannonia. According to Suetonius, Tiberius rode in the triumphal procession, but before he reached the Capitol he dismounted

from his chariot and fell at the knees of Augustus as a sign of filial (by adoption) piety. In response to this touching act, a law was

passed that essentially made Tiberius co-princeps with Augustus and permitted him to govern provinces and undertake the census.

Thus the coin, struck in AD 14/5 serves to remind the user of the events of only a few years earlier at a time when there was still a

great deal of confusion about how the imperial succession would play out.