Ionia. Magnesia ad Maeander. Augustus 27 BC-AD 14.
Bronze Æ

19 mm, 5,54 g

ΛΕΥ[ΚΙΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ] ΓΑΙΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ, bare heads of Lucius and Gaius Caesar facing each other, monogram between / [ΜΑΓΝΗ]ΤΩ[Ν], facing cult statue of Artemis Leukophryene, with two supports.

Fine

RPC I 2696.

Gaius Caesar and Lucius Caesar, sons of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and Julia (Augustus's daughter), were adopted by Augustus in 17 BC to secure the Roman imperial succession. Gaius, the elder brother, held esteemed titles like "Leader of the Youth" and was granted imperium maius in 2 BC. In 2 BC, he married Livilla and embarked on a significant journey to the East, meeting Augustus's stepson, Tiberius. However, tragedy struck during the siege of Artagera in Armenia, resulting in Gaius's fatal injuries and subsequent death in Limyra, Lycia. A cenotaph was erected in his honor. Lucius Caesar, the second son, designated "Leader of the Youth" at the age of 2 BC, enjoyed early recognition and promises, including an engagement to Aemilia Lepida. Unfortunately, Lucius met his untimely demise on his way to Spain in AD 2, where he was set to be introduced to the army before assuming the consulship. His premature death marked the end of a promising lineage within the Julio-Claudian dynasty, and he was buried in the Augustus Mausoleum. With Gaius and his younger brother Lucius both deceased by AD 2, Augustus turned to his stepson Tiberius and Agrippa Postumus as new heirs.