When this coin was struck in 15 BC, it was only five years since the Rome mint was reopened. Along with Rome, another mint at Lugdunum (modern day Lyon, France) was widely used for striking coinage. Coins in gold and silver were actively struck as publicity for the Roman emperor. A youthful Augustus is pictured on the obverse of this coin. In 15 BC he was already married to his second wife Livia for 23 years (he divorced his first wife Scribonia, mother of his only child Julia, in 39 BC). Julia’s two young sons, Gaius and Lucius were still alive at the time and being primed to take over later from Augustus. He also was providing employment to his two stepsons, future emperor Tiberius and his brother Drusus. Both boys were sent on a military campaign and successfully extended the Roman empire from Italy to the upper Danube.