Ancient Rome - 27 BCE-14 CE Augustus AR Denarius NGC AU

Ancient Rome - 14 AD Augustus AR Denarius NGC AU $3,750.

      Augustus wanted to accomplish more than to shape Rome into an empire. He also needed to provide successors. Since he had no sons, he had to find heirs to the throne. His lieutenant and friend Agrippa married his daughter Julia and fathered two sons before he died in 12 BC. Those sons were Gaius Caesar and Lucius Caesar. The year 17 BC saw Augustus formally adopt these two grandsons. He then ordered his stepson Tiberius to divorce his wife and marry the widowed Julia and serve as regent to Gaius and Lucius. Tiberius resented this intrusion upon his personal life, but had no choice but to obey Augustus. The two boys grew up wealthy and famous, taught by Rome's finest teachers and seeing their images honored upon temples, statues, and coins. However, neither Gaius or Lucius would take their grandfather's throne. It was in the year 2 AD that Lucius suddenly fell ill and died. The following year saw Gaius injured on campaign and then died. Augustus found himself with no heirs, and he and the nascent empire contemplated its uncertain future. Even though the coin is dated 2 BC-4 AD, it is within the realm of possibility that this coin was struck to honor Augustus' two grandsons after their untimely deaths.