Roman gold aureus issued under the emperor Augustus around 9 BC, during the early period of the Roman Empire. Struck at the mint of Lugdunum (modern Lyon), it weighs about 7.9 g and measures roughly 19–20 mm, reflecting the high standard of Augustan monetary reform where one aureus equaled 25 denarii. The obverse features a laureate portrait of Augustus with the inscription AVGVSTVS DIVI F, meaning “Augustus, son of the divine,” emphasizing his connection to the deified Julius Caesar. The reverse depicts Augustus seated on a platform receiving a child from a barbarian figure, accompanied by the legend IMP XIIII, indicating his acclamation as imperator for the fourteenth time—likely symbolizing Roman authority and diplomacy over foreign peoples. This type is relatively rare and highly valued among collectors, with surviving examples showing slight variations due to hand-hammered production.
#aureus #barbarian #roman_coins
#Augustus #Julius_Caesar#gold
