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Auction: 24005 - The Official Coinex Auction of Ancient, British and World Coins
Lot: 112

NGC VF | Roman Empire, Agrippina Senior, wife of Germanicus and mother of Caligula, AE Sestertius, struck uder Claudius (AD 41-54), Rome, c. 42-43, AGRIPPINA M F GERMANICI CAESARIS, draped bust right, rev. TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR P IMP P P surrounding SC, 28.35g (RIC 102; Cohen 3; BMC 219) some wear to the reverse legend, softness to upper reaches of portrait, but otherwise near very fine, rare, in an NGC 'Ancients' holder, graded Very Fine ~ Smoothing (Strike: 5/5, Surface: 2/5) [NGC Cert. #8221849-032]

Provenance

The Major Hamish and Mrs Ann Orr-Ewing Collection of Roman Coins


Essentially responsible for ensuring the continuation of Augustus's bloodline among the Julio-Claudian dynasty, Agrippina the Elder endured two traumatic purges that claimed the lives of most of her relatives. Following the death of her father, Marcus Agrippa, in 12 BC, her siblings were considered the next heir apparents by Augustus, however during a vicious period of rivalry between various dynastic branches between AD 2 and 8, all of them except Agrippina were killed or exiled. Following Agrippina's marriage to Germanicus, the latter became head of a rival branch of the family to that of Tiberius, which was rich with Augustan pedigree and immensely popular. The threat of this second branch led to a second purge, carried out by Tiberius and his Praetorian Prefect, Sejanus, opening with the controversial death of Germanicus, along with the exiles of Agrippina herself and her children, Drusus (both of whom died in 31), and Nero Caesar (who died in 35).

Agrippina was, owing to her direct lineage from Augustus, much revered by the Roman people, as too were her descendants, which included both emperors Caligula and Nero. By striking these popular types in commemoration of her, Claudius was emphasising the Julian and Augustan pedigree of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, as well as minimising any potential complications from his succession following the death of Caligula. The Augustan connection and the frenzy of enthusiasm it created for imperial claimants, cannot be overstated, and it was this which would crystalise the popularity of Nero from his bloody accession until long after his death.

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Sold for
£290

Starting price
£280