Watch List notes:

ROMAN COINS

Claudius, 41-54. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 33mm, 26.36 g 6), Rome, 41-42. TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP Laureate head of Claudius to right. Rev. SPES AVGVSTA / S C Spes advancing to left, lifting up the hem of her robes with her left hand and holding a flower in her right. BMC 124. Cohen 85. RIC 99. Nicely toned. Reverse slightly corroded, otherwise, very fine.

The Sestertius was a quarter denarius and was a major part of the Roman coinage system in Imperial times. The issues of Claudius with the reverse of Spes, a goddess of particular interest to the emperor, were quite large, and usually bear a fine portrait, of pure Julio-Claudian style as we see here. They were, in fact, so popular with the troops on the frontier that many local imitations were produced as well, many looking decidely bizarre.