Artemide Aste s.r.l.
Auction XLVIII 2 Dec 2017
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Octavia, first wife of Nero (died 62 AD). AE 26 mm. Perinthus mint, Thrace. Reign of Nero, 59-63 AD. Obv. OKTAOYA ΣEBAΣTH. Diademed and draped bust right. Rev. HPA ΠE[P]INΘIΩN. Hera Pronuba standing left, wearing kalathos, holding two ribbons. RPC 1755. Varbanov III, 23. AE. g. 10.57 RRR. An outstanding example of this very rare and fascinating issue. Superb deep olive-green patina. About EF/Good VF.
The youngest daughter of Claudius and his third wife, Valeria Messalina, Claudia Octavia died young after enduring a tragic life. Her date of birth is unknown, but certainly was before 41, shortly after which her brother Britannicus was born. She was originally betrothed to Lucius Junius Silanus, a nobleman descended from Augustus who was in good favor with Claudius. But Silanus was discredited so that Claudia Octavia could be betrothed to Nero in 49 (...).
Claudia Octavia and Nero were married in 53, apparently premature of the normally accettable age of 15. But since they were first-cousins-once-removed, and their parents were niece and uncle, this was just one of several dubious aspects of their family relations.
The families of Claudius and Germanicus were now linked by two marriages. Nero's marriage to Claudia Octavia was expecially important, for he was already Claudius' adopted son, and in 51 was hailed princeps iuventutis. Thus the marriage virtually guaranteed he would be Claudius' successor.
In the following year, Nero became emperor after Claudius was poisoned. With her new husband being hailed emperor, Claudia Octavia was made Augusta, a title she held until her downfall eight years later.
One can only imagine how she viewed this honour – perhaps reluctantly – as she had earned it only because her father had been murdered. Her anguish could only have been increased when she witnessed her only brother, Britannicus, die violently from poison at a banquet she also attended (...).
After five years of sour marriage, Nero became enamored of Poppaea Sabina, who then was the wife of Nero's close friend, the future emperor Otho. In 58, Nero seduced Poppaea and sent Otho to Lusitania (...) so that he could have her to himself.
Nero's relationship with Poppaea continued until, in 62, he determined to get rid of Claudia Octavia so he could marry Poppaea. To achieve this, he claimed Claudia Octavia was sterile (which may have been true), and that as such she could not perform the duties required of an empress.
The divorce was quickly granted (in 62) and Claudia Octavia was sent to rural Campania to live under military guard. But the ex-empress was very popular among the people, and when a rumor of her reinstatement was sparked, Nero decided to get rid of her by inventing charges of adultery and treason. Claudia Octavia, then perhaps 22 years old, was exiled to the island of Pandateria, where she was executed on June 9th of 62 (...).
Two categories of coinage were struck for Claudia Octavia. The earliest pieces depict her as the daughter of Claudius (...) and the later pieces as the wife of Nero.
(D. L. Vagi. Coinage and History of the Roman Empire, vol. I History, p. 169-170).
Provenance:
Gorny & Mosch 133, lot 308.
The youngest daughter of Claudius and his third wife, Valeria Messalina, Claudia Octavia died young after enduring a tragic life. Her date of birth is unknown, but certainly was before 41, shortly after which her brother Britannicus was born. She was originally betrothed to Lucius Junius Silanus, a nobleman descended from Augustus who was in good favor with Claudius. But Silanus was discredited so that Claudia Octavia could be betrothed to Nero in 49 (...).
Claudia Octavia and Nero were married in 53, apparently premature of the normally accettable age of 15. But since they were first-cousins-once-removed, and their parents were niece and uncle, this was just one of several dubious aspects of their family relations.
The families of Claudius and Germanicus were now linked by two marriages. Nero's marriage to Claudia Octavia was expecially important, for he was already Claudius' adopted son, and in 51 was hailed princeps iuventutis. Thus the marriage virtually guaranteed he would be Claudius' successor.
In the following year, Nero became emperor after Claudius was poisoned. With her new husband being hailed emperor, Claudia Octavia was made Augusta, a title she held until her downfall eight years later.
One can only imagine how she viewed this honour – perhaps reluctantly – as she had earned it only because her father had been murdered. Her anguish could only have been increased when she witnessed her only brother, Britannicus, die violently from poison at a banquet she also attended (...).
After five years of sour marriage, Nero became enamored of Poppaea Sabina, who then was the wife of Nero's close friend, the future emperor Otho. In 58, Nero seduced Poppaea and sent Otho to Lusitania (...) so that he could have her to himself.
Nero's relationship with Poppaea continued until, in 62, he determined to get rid of Claudia Octavia so he could marry Poppaea. To achieve this, he claimed Claudia Octavia was sterile (which may have been true), and that as such she could not perform the duties required of an empress.
The divorce was quickly granted (in 62) and Claudia Octavia was sent to rural Campania to live under military guard. But the ex-empress was very popular among the people, and when a rumor of her reinstatement was sparked, Nero decided to get rid of her by inventing charges of adultery and treason. Claudia Octavia, then perhaps 22 years old, was exiled to the island of Pandateria, where she was executed on June 9th of 62 (...).
Two categories of coinage were struck for Claudia Octavia. The earliest pieces depict her as the daughter of Claudius (...) and the later pieces as the wife of Nero.
(D. L. Vagi. Coinage and History of the Roman Empire, vol. I History, p. 169-170).
Provenance:
Gorny & Mosch 133, lot 308.