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Exquisite Nero Claudius Drusus Denarius
437
Nero Claudius Drusus. Silver Denarius (3.80 g), AD 41-54. Rome, under Claudius, ca. AD 41-45. NERO
CLAVDIVS DRVSVS GERMANICVS IMP, laureate head of Nero Claudius Drusus left. Rev. Triumphal
arch surmounted by equestrian statue left between two trophies, DE GERMANIS on architrave. RIC
72; BMC 101; RSC 4. Well struck on a large wide flan with every letter complete. A superb portrait of
Nero Claudius Drusus and delicately toned.
Very rare and among the finest specimens known
. Superb Extremely
Fine.
$10,000
Ex NAC 62 (6 October 2011), 2018;
Ex NAC 29 (11 May 2005), 466;
Ex Tkalec (29 February 2000), 234;
Ex Exceptional Roman Denarii Coll. #3043.
Nero Claudius Drusus was the son of Livia and the senator Tiberius Claudius Nero. Before he was born his parents divorced
so that Augustus could marry his mother. Unlike his older brother, the future emperor Tiberius whom Augustus disliked, the
emperor doted on his younger stepson.
In 13 BC Drusus was sent to govern Gaul, and while there he repelled an attack by a tribe of Germans who had invaded the
province. Most of the following years until his death were spent on campaigns in German territory. First, he crossed the Rhine
frontier and penetrated as far as the North Sea, subduing the Frisii. The following years saw him engaged against various con-
federations of the Chatti, Sicambri and Marcomanni. He died tragically in 9 BC from injuries he sustained when he fell from
his horse while on campaign fighting the Marcomanni.
The Arch of Drusus that appears on the reverse of this coin and which commemorated his campaigns in Germania has not
survived. Its precise location is not known, but it was on the Appian way.
Wonderful Portraits of Caligula and Augustus
438
Caligula (A.D. 37-41), with Divus Augustus (d. AD 14). Silver Denarius. Mint of Lugdunum, struck A.D.
37-38. C CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR POT COS, bare head of Caligula facing. Rev. Radiate head of
Augustus facing right, between two stars. (RIC 2; C 11). A few light marks, two excellent portraits, attrac-
tive cabinet toning. Nearly Extremely Fine.
$7,000
Ex Rauch Auction 58, 1996, lot 180.