An Attractive Denarius of Claudius
532
Claudius (AD 41-54), ������ ��������� ����� ���� �� ����� �� �����
Silver Denarius, 3.8g. Mint of Rome, AD 51/2.
TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P
XI IMP P P COS V
, laureate head of Claudius facing right. Rev.
PACI AVGVSTAE
, Nemesis advancing right,
pulling fold of her robe below neck, holding winged caduceus downwards with which she points at serpent
before her (RIC 62; BMC 69; RSC 68). Perfectly centred on both sides with full legends, extremely attractive
with lovely iridescent toning, extremely fine.
$ 7,500
ex Leu Auction 86, 5 May 2003, lot 765
ex C. K. Collection, Triton Auction XIV, 3 January 2011, lot 648
The goddess Nemesis represented divine retribution and just fortune, and, according to the poet Mesomedes, was the
daughter of Justitia. She was often invoked before a military campaign where it was customary to offer a sword in her
honor. Her appearance on imperial coins is uncommon, mainly occurring under Claudius and Hadrian. She is normally,
but not always, depicted winged, as here, and often pulls a fold of drapery from her neck so that she can spit into her
bosom (Meleager Anthologia Graeca XII.229).
Exquisite Nero Claudius Drusus Denarius
533
Nero Claudius Drusus (father of Claudius and Germanicus, brother of Tiberius, d. 9 BC), Silver Denarius,
3.80g. Mint of Rome, under Claudius, c. 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 marvellous portrait of Nero Claudius Drusus, delicately toned,
superb extremely fine.
Very rare and among the finest specimens known.
$ 30,000
ex Tkalec Auction, 29 February 2000, lot 234
ex NAC Auction 29, 11 May 2005, lot 466
ex NAC Auction 62, 6 October 2011, lot 2018
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.
In13BCDrususwassenttogovernGaul,andwhilethereherepelledanattackbyatribeof Germanswhohadinvadedtheprovince.Mostof the
followingyearsuntilhisdeathwerespentoncampaignsinGermanterritory.First,hecrossedtheRhinefrontierandpenetratedasfarasthe
NorthSea,subduingtheFrisii.Thefollowingyearssawhimengagedagainstvariousconfederationsof theChatti,SicambriandMarcomanni.
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.
