Unpublished? Solo portrait of Lucius Caesar from Antioch ad Meander

After a gruelling wait, customs finally saw fit to release one of my "white whale" coins for my Roman portrait collection!

Lucius Caesar
Died 2 AD
AE14 of Caria, Antioch ad Meandrum
ΛEYKIOC KAICAP, bare head right
A-N/T-I around winged caduceus, all within wreath
Erroneously attributed as RPC I supp. 5478 (Augustus)
(Example of RPC 5478: https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=2935&lot=196)


While the ill-fated Lucius is certainly no stranger to ancient coins, portrait coins are restricted to provincial issues only, and issues only in the name of Lucius Caesar are very rare, restricted to just a few types and perhaps only a few hundred extant examples across those types.

Historically, there is extremely little to say about Lucius. Born in 17 BC to Agrippa and Julia the Elder, Lucius was the second-born biological grandson of Augustus after his other brother Gaius. Apparently wishing his empire to be inherited by two young men groomed for the purpose rather than old politicians with their own memories of the Republic, Augustus adopted both Gaius and Lucius as his own sons soon after Lucius was born, and personally oversaw their upbringing, intent to have them ready to take on political responsibility as soon as they were ready. Gaius proceeded through the Cursus Honorium and was deployed to the East to gain experience in military leadership and diplomacy. Lucius followed shortly behind, and in 2 AD he was sent west to train in Hispania, but fell ill and died en route, aged only 19. Gaius died a year and a half later when he failed to recover from an assassination attempt. Their unexpected deaths sent the empire topsy-turvy and ultimately led to Augustus selecting Tiberius as his last-ditch choice.

I tried a number of queries, but I can't find another example of this coin anywhere. I would welcome any insights if there is a key word I am missing!

As always, feel free to post any coins you have of either ill-fated brother!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=6010567
here is another one

 

Thanks for the link!

So this one isn't alone. Looks like the linked example might be an obverse die match to mine, but the reverses are different. I wonder how many more could be out there...

 

Hi @Finn235,

Here's another that's for sale at https://www.forumancientcoins.com/c...fld=https://www.forumancientcoins.com/Coins2/
(I hesitate to link to commercial sites, but you asked).

- Broucheion

 

That one is RPC 5478 - it is missing the ANTI on the reverse and instead does not name the obverse figure but has ANTIOXEWN around and underneath the bust. The seller does make some valid points about the bust, but I am generally hesitant to accept an attribution of any of these early Imperial busts without a name to accompany it. Let's face it - there is far more difference between an Augustus of this time minted at Hispania versus an Augustus minted in Asia minor than a ~65 year old Augustus and a ~17 year old Lucius from the same mint!