He suffered but two severe and ignominious defeats, those of Lollius [15 B.C.] and Varus [9 A.D.], both of which were in Germany. Of these the former was more humiliating than serious, but the latter was almost fatal, since three legions were cut to pieces with their general, his lieutenants, and all the auxiliaries. In fact, they say that he was so greatly affected that for several months in succession he cut neither his beard nor his hair, and sometimes he would dash his head against a door, crying: "Quintilius Varus, give me back my legions!" And he observed the day of the disaster each year as one of sorrow and mourning.

- Suetonius

What Mark Anthony hoped for, Octavian, later taken the name Augustus, obtained. The first true emperor of the Roman era, his long stable reign firmly stamped out any hope of returning to the Republic. His long reign anchored the next 5 emperors; and defined the Roman Empire. His sole defeat in Germany also forshadowed the trouble Rome was to have with that region.

This coin commemorate the coming of age of his two grandsons, Gaius and Lucius - groomed to be emperors, but both destined to die before reaching that goal. This is one of the most circulated type during his long reign. This type of coin, not the more popular Tiberius denarius, was probably the "tribute" penny used by Jesus in the Bible.

Lyons mint, 2 BC - ca 13 AD. CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE. laureate head right / AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT, C L CAESARES below, Gaius & Lucius standing front, each with a hand resting on a round shield, a spear, & in field above, a lituus right & simpulum left.