Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 119 with Jesús Vico S.A. 6 Oct 2020
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Nero caesar, 50 – 54
Aureus 50-54, AV 7.72 g. NERONI CLAVDIO DRVSO GERM COS DESIGN Bare headed and draped bust r. Rev. EQVESTER / OR – DO / PRINCIPI / IVVENT on shield set on vertical spear behind. C 96. BMC Claudius 92. von Kaenel 1154 (this coin illustrated). RIC Claudius 78. CBN Claudius 95. Faces of Power 29. Biaggi 223 (this coin). Calicó 407.
Rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, possibly the finest specimen in private
hands. A very gentle portrait struck in high relief on a very broad flan and an
enchanting reddish tone. Good extremely fine
Ex Glendinings 20th February 1951, Ryan, 1655 and Leu XXII, 1979, 211 sales. From the Biaggi collection and the Boscoreale hoard of 1895. This coin is sold with an export licence issued by the government of Spain.
In AD 48, the increasingly flagrant affairs of Claudius third wife, Valeria Messalina, resulted in her execution, leaving Britannicus, her son with Claudius and the apparent imperial heir, without a mother. Serial monogamist that he was, Claudius immediately remedied the situation the following year by taking his niece, Agrippina the Younger, as his fourth wife. Unfortunately for Britannicus, his new stepmother also came with her own son from a previous marriage, L. Domitius Ahenobarbus. By February of AD 49, Agrippina had used her feminine wiles to convince Claudius to adopt her son under the dynastic name Nero Claudius (or simply Nero) and recognize him as joint heir with Britannicus. This new arrangement was sealed and made visible to the public through the marriage of Nero to Britannicus sister Octavia in March-June of the same year.
Despite their status as joint imperial heirs, it quickly became clear that Nero was being advanced as the primary heir and Britannicus left in the shadows only to guarantee an heir if Nero should happen to die prematurely. In AD 51, the Roman Senate voted him extraordinary honors despite the fact that he was only 14 years old. He was permitted to assume the toga virilis, a public sign of manhood, a year earlier than custom dictated and was elected consul for the following year. As consul-elect he was granted the extraordinary power of proconsular imperium ("authority of a proconsul") and named princeps iuventutis ("Prince of the Youth") a title used to designate imperial heirs originating with Augustus.
This beautiful aureus with a Boscoreale provenance (arguably the most illustrious provenance available for a Julio-Claudian gold coin) was probably struck as part of the donative known to have been distributed to the Roman army in celebration of Neros extraordinary new status. The reverse depicts a shield inscribed with the title of princeps iuventutis and probably represents the manner in which the Senate bestowed it upon Nero, echoing the earlier award of the clipeus virtutis (a shield inscribed with virtue, clemency, justice, and piety) to Augustus in 27 BC.
Aureus 50-54, AV 7.72 g. NERONI CLAVDIO DRVSO GERM COS DESIGN Bare headed and draped bust r. Rev. EQVESTER / OR – DO / PRINCIPI / IVVENT on shield set on vertical spear behind. C 96. BMC Claudius 92. von Kaenel 1154 (this coin illustrated). RIC Claudius 78. CBN Claudius 95. Faces of Power 29. Biaggi 223 (this coin). Calicó 407.
Rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, possibly the finest specimen in private
hands. A very gentle portrait struck in high relief on a very broad flan and an
enchanting reddish tone. Good extremely fine
Ex Glendinings 20th February 1951, Ryan, 1655 and Leu XXII, 1979, 211 sales. From the Biaggi collection and the Boscoreale hoard of 1895. This coin is sold with an export licence issued by the government of Spain.
In AD 48, the increasingly flagrant affairs of Claudius third wife, Valeria Messalina, resulted in her execution, leaving Britannicus, her son with Claudius and the apparent imperial heir, without a mother. Serial monogamist that he was, Claudius immediately remedied the situation the following year by taking his niece, Agrippina the Younger, as his fourth wife. Unfortunately for Britannicus, his new stepmother also came with her own son from a previous marriage, L. Domitius Ahenobarbus. By February of AD 49, Agrippina had used her feminine wiles to convince Claudius to adopt her son under the dynastic name Nero Claudius (or simply Nero) and recognize him as joint heir with Britannicus. This new arrangement was sealed and made visible to the public through the marriage of Nero to Britannicus sister Octavia in March-June of the same year.
Despite their status as joint imperial heirs, it quickly became clear that Nero was being advanced as the primary heir and Britannicus left in the shadows only to guarantee an heir if Nero should happen to die prematurely. In AD 51, the Roman Senate voted him extraordinary honors despite the fact that he was only 14 years old. He was permitted to assume the toga virilis, a public sign of manhood, a year earlier than custom dictated and was elected consul for the following year. As consul-elect he was granted the extraordinary power of proconsular imperium ("authority of a proconsul") and named princeps iuventutis ("Prince of the Youth") a title used to designate imperial heirs originating with Augustus.
This beautiful aureus with a Boscoreale provenance (arguably the most illustrious provenance available for a Julio-Claudian gold coin) was probably struck as part of the donative known to have been distributed to the Roman army in celebration of Neros extraordinary new status. The reverse depicts a shield inscribed with the title of princeps iuventutis and probably represents the manner in which the Senate bestowed it upon Nero, echoing the earlier award of the clipeus virtutis (a shield inscribed with virtue, clemency, justice, and piety) to Augustus in 27 BC.