Roman Empire, Italy. In the name of Antonia, wife of Nero Claudius Drusus and mother of Claudius, Rome, c. 41-45 AD
Roman Empire, Italy. In the name of Antonia, wife of Nero Claudius Drusus and mother of Claudius, Rome, c. 41-45 AD
AR Denarius, 3.85g (18mm, 6h).
ANTONIA – AVGVSTA Draped bust r., wearing barley-wreath. / CONSTANTIAE – AVGVSTI Antonia as Constantia standing facing, holding long torch and cornucopiae.
Pedigree: Ex NAC 18, 2000, lot 426; NAC 41, 2007, lot 43 and NAC 101, 2017, Ploil, lot 105 sales.
References: C 2. BMC Claudius 111. RIC Claudius 66. CBN Claudius 14
Grade: A splendid example of an often difficult type to get. Small flan irregularity at 6h on obverse. Beautifully struck with cabinet toning. Under high magnification there is some evidence of light wear and the right legend on the obverse is at the edge of the flan and a bit softer than the opposite legend. A slightly better example hammered for $55,000 in Goldberg 80 (3 June 2014, lot 3114). Toned EF
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Like most families, the Julio-Claudians did not always have the best of relationships. Antonia, for one, was subject to a historic run of bad luck and overbearing relatives. Her husband, Nero Claudius Drusus, died on campaign in germania. Her eldest son Germanicus died in AD 19, in Asia, where he incorporated the kingdoms of Commagene and Cappadocia into Roman provinces. Her younger son Claudius, was supposedly born with severe disabilities, and her daughter Livilla poisoned her husband Drusus the Younger. She later fell out of favor with her grandson, Caligula, and committed suicide in AD 37.
This coin depicts the deceased Divus Antonia on the obverse, connecting her to the goddess Constantia and the priestess of Divus Augustus on the reverse. As such, It recalls her undeniably influential role on the early empire over her many years working behind the political scenes in Rome.