Watch List notes:

BITHYNIA. Nicaea. Nero, with Statilia Messalina. Diassarion (Bronze, 26 mm, 12.70 g, 6 h), circa 62-66. NEPΩN KΛAYΔIOΣ KAIΣAP ΣEBAΣTOΣ ΓEP Radiate head of Nero to right. Rev. [ME]ΣΣ[AΛ]EINA [Γ]YNH ΣEBAΣTOY Statilia Messalina, as Securitas, seated right, holding scepter in her left hand and propping her right on head. RPC I 2061 corr. (obverse legend ending on 'ΓE', reverse read as 'ΓYNE'). Very rare, just four examples recorded in RPC. Attractive olive-green patina and unusually complete. Struck on a somewhat irregular flan, otherwise, very fine.


The reverse legend translates as 'Messalina, wife of the Augustus', a very unusual titulature otherwise only known from coins of Claudius and Agrippina of Crete, and an issue struck by Agrippa I in honor of Caesonia, the wife of Caligula.