Augustus Gold Aureus, RIC I (second edition) Augustus 198

Monetary Context and Imperial Reform

The monetary system established by Augustus consolidated the late republican gold coinage into a stable, regularized imperial currency. Prior to the Principate, gold issues had been struck primarily on an episodic basis by military commanders in the field. Augustus transformed the aureus into a standardized denomination minted at a theoretical weight standard of 1/42 of a Roman pound, yielding an average weight around 7.85 to 7.90 grams of fine gold. By setting the legal tariff of one aureus to twenty-five silver denarii, the Augustan monetary framework integrated precious-metal denominations with orichalcum and copper token coinages into a unified trimetallic structure. Within this hierarchy, the aureus served as the principal vehicle for substantial state disbursements, including military gratuities, diplomatic payments, and massive infrastructure financing. The issuance of RIC I (second edition) Augustus 198 around 9 BC occurred during a period of intense military engagement in Germania and Pannonia led by Drusus and Tiberius. High-denomination gold was essential for maintaining army payrolls and securing the loyalty of veteran legions along the northern frontiers. Gold aurei struck at Lugdunum circulated at par across the entire Mediterranean basin, enjoying unmatched credit and fiscal confidence throughout Roman territory.

Production and Mint Attribution

RIC I (second edition) Augustus 198 is firmly attributed to the imperial mint of Lugdunum. Established during the late Republic as a colonial center, Lugdunum was elevated to the status of primary imperial precious-metal mint during the last decade of the first century BC. The relocation of bulk gold and silver striking from Rome to Gaul brought minting operations closer to the Rhine legions and provided secure access to the gold reserves of the western provinces. Lugdunum operated under direct imperial administration, employing skilled engravers whose dies exhibit consistent stylistic execution, characterized by classical proportions, elegant lettering, and controlled relief. Die studies across the series indicate that obverse dies were cut with meticulous care, though individual engravers varied the precise tilt of the portrait and the spacing of the laurel wreath ties. The reverse die-axes for this series show a predominantly regular orientation, typically aligned at either twelve o'clock or six o'clock, reflecting the disciplined workshop practices of the imperial Gaulish establishment. Flans were cast in individual molds or sliced from cast ingots before being adjusted for weight and struck hot, ensuring crisp detail across the elaborate equestrian iconography.

Obverse Iconography and Imperial Portraiture

The obverse of RIC I (second edition) Augustus 198 presents a left-facing bust of Augustus wearing a laurel wreath. Left-facing portraits are notably scarcer than right-facing counterparts within the Augustan corpus, distinguishing this catalogue variety within the wider series. The portrait belongs to the mature 'Primaporta' stylistic tradition, which eschewed the aggressive, veristic grimaces of late republican triumviral portraiture in favor of an idealized, serene, and ageless countenance. Augustus is portrayed with a prominent jaw, a lean profile, and the characteristic arrangement of hair locks over the forehead known in classical scholarship. The laurel wreath encircles the head with leaves rendered in crisp relief, its ribbon ties falling along the back of the neck. In Roman numismatic iconography, the laurel wreath served as a powerful symbol of victory, divine favor, and the civil honors granted by the Senate in 27 BC. By depicting the princeps in this restrained heroic manner, the die engravers at Lugdunum visually affirmed Augustus's supreme moral authority and military achievements without resorting to overt royal regalia.

Reverse Iconography and Dynastic Symbolism

The reverse of the coin carries a vivid martial composition: Gaius Caesar galloping rapidly on horseback to the right. The youth holds the reins and a sword alongside a small round shield in his left hand, presenting the posture of an energetic cavalry commander. Set upon the exergual ground line beneath and behind the horse are legionary standards: an aquila (the legionary eagle) flanked by two standard shafts or signa. Gaius Caesar, born in 20 BC to Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and Augustus's daughter Julia, was adopted by Augustus alongside his younger brother Lucius in 17 BC. In 8 BC, Gaius participated in his first military exercises on the Rhine with Tiberius, an event directly anticipated or celebrated by this coinage struck around 9 BC. The reverse composition emphasizes the military education of the heir apparent and advertises his devotion to the legions. By placing Gaius among the sacred standards, the design publicly proclaims the continuity of the Julio-Claudian dynasty and assures the imperial armed forces that a capable successor is being prepared to maintain the security of Rome.

Inscriptions and Epigraphic Analysis

The legends on RIC I (second edition) Augustus 198 are concise, elegant, and loaded with ideological weight. The obverse reads AVGVSTVS DIVI F, beginning at the lower left and continuing clockwise around the periphery. This formula encapsulates two defining aspects of the ruler's political persona: 'AVGVSTVS', the sacrosanct name bestowed by the Senate, and 'DIVI F' (Divi Filius), indicating his status as the son of the deified Julius Caesar. This filiation had formed the bedrock of his legitimacy since the triumviral era and remained an indispensable claim of divine backing. The reverse inscription reads C CAES AVGVS F, which expands to 'Caius Caesar Augusti Filius' (Gaius Caesar, son of Augustus). This legend definitively establishes the familial standing of the rider. Rather than citing specific magisterial offices or tribunician iterations, the legends focus exclusively on pedigree and legal lineage. The lettering is rendered in classic Augustan capitals with neat, wedge-shaped serifs and balanced letter-spacing, demonstrating the high epigraphic standards maintained by the Lugdunum mint staff.

Typology and Chronological Classification

Within the typology established by C. H. V. Sutherland in the second edition of Roman Imperial Coinage, type 198 represents the gold aureus counterpart to silver denarius issues bearing identical or related iconography. Sutherland dated this specific issue to approximately 9 BC, placing it squarely within the period when Lugdunum was the sole operational mint for imperial precious metal. The catalogue distinguishes RIC 198 specifically by its left-facing obverse portrait, in contrast to RIC 196 and RIC 197, which present the imperial bust turned to the right. The reverse type with Gaius Caesar on horseback alongside standards also appears on denarii (such as RIC 199), demonstrating a synchronized issue across denominations. Chronologically, this series directly precedes the massive and prolonged issue of the 'Gaius and Lucius Caesar standing with shields' coinage that dominated Lugdunum production between 2 BC and AD 4. Because RIC 198 was struck during a narrow operational window around 9 BC, its production volume was far smaller than the ubiquitous later dynastic issues, rendering it an essential benchmark for tracking the development of early imperial portraiture and succession imagery.

Circulation, Hoard Evidence, and Survival

Gold aurei under Augustus were high-value instruments primarily conserved for large-scale commerce, significant banking transfers, and long-term storage of wealth. Consequently, individual aurei of RIC 198 did not circulate from hand to hand with the rapid velocity seen in bronze asses or silver denarii. When recovered from archaeological contexts and recorded hoards throughout Gaul, Italy, and the frontier provinces, surviving specimens generally exhibit minimal to moderate wear, suggesting that many were held in hoards for years or decades before burial. The intrinsic value of nearly eight grams of pure gold protected these coins from the heavy clipping and mutilation that often affected lower denominations. Over the course of the first century AD, many early Augustan aurei were eventually withdrawn from circulation and melted down, particularly following Nero's monetary reform of AD 64, which lowered the gold aureus standard to 1/45 of a Roman pound (approximately 7.28 grams). The surviving specimens of RIC 198 that escaped the melting pot offer critical material evidence for understanding the initial phase of dynastic promotion in the western Roman Empire.

References

1. Le Monnayage de l'atelier de Lyon: Des origines au regne de Caligula (43 av. J.-C. - 41 ap. J.-C.). pp. 88-92
2. Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, Volume I: Augustus to Vitellius. pp. 82-84
3. Online Coins of the Roman Empire: RIC I (second edition) Augustus 198. ric.1(2).aug.198
4. The Roman Imperial Coinage, Volume I: From 31 BC to AD 69 (Revised Edition). p. 55, no. 198