Augustus AR denarius. 
Uncertain mint, 17 BC. 

CAESAR, youthful head right (possibly Gaius Caesar), within oak-wreath 
AVG-VST, to left and right of candelabrum, ornamented with 
rams’ heads, within wreath entwined with bucrania and 
paterae. 

RIC 540; BMC 684. 3.86g, 17mm, 6h. Very Rare - R2. 

The reverse type commemorates the Ludi Saeculares of 17 BC. 
The sacrifical ceremonies took place over three days and 
three nights, and the candelabra, bucrania, and paterae 
allude to the sacrifice of two bulls on the first night. 
Augustus, as Pontifex Maximus, had a prominent role in the 
proceedings. The portrait is sometimes regarded as Gaius 
Caesar, grandson of Octavian, but the legend CAESAR makes 
this unlikely since this usually accompanies portraits of 
Augustus himself. Cf. Sunderland, The date and the 
significance of the candelabrum coins of Augustus, Classical 
Review 54, 1944, pp 46 ff. Ex Gorny & Mosch 176, Munich 
2009, lot 2074.

With permission of Roma Numismatics, March, 2012