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Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 119 with Jesús Vico S.A.  6 Oct 2020
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Lot 9

Estimate: 40 000 CHF
Price realized: 55 000 CHF
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In the name of Nero Claudius Drusus, brother of Tiberius and father of Claudius
Aureus circa 41-45, AV 7.81 g. NERO CLAVDIVS DRVSVS GERMANICVS IMP Laureate head l. Rev. DE – GE – R – MA – NIS Vexillum between two crossed oblong shields, and two pairs of spears and trumpets crossed. C 5. BMC Claudius 104. RIC Claudius 73. CBN Claudius 7. Calicó 317b (these dies).
Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, undoubtedly the finest specimen in
private hands. A portrait of magnificent style perfectly struck and centred on
a very broad flan. Virtually as struck and almost Fdc

Privately purchased from Ibergold in 1982. This coin is sold with an export licence issued by the government of Spain.

Roman history, like that of any enduring empire, allows for speculation about how the course of events might have changed had certain people died, or in this case, not died. A perfect study in this is Nero Claudius Drusus, the younger brother of Tiberius. Unlike Tiberius, whom Augustus had always disliked, Drusus was much beloved by Rome's first emperor. When Augustus wrested Livia from her first husband, she was pregnant with Drusus, and gave birth to him months after her marriage to Augustus. It is commonly understood that Livia's first husband had sired Nero Claudius Drusus – but perhaps it is not impossible that Augustus was the father. Speculation aside, Augustus took instantly to the newborn Drusus and treated him as if he was a son of his own blood. The same cannot be said for Drusus' brother Tiberius, who was already four years old when he came to live in Augustus' household. Augustus saw personally to Drusus' education and arranged his marriage to his extraordinarily noble and wealthy niece Antonia. Drusus' career advanced quickly and, after commanding alongside his brother, spent three years leading a campaign in Germany. Whilst there Drusus was able to dedicate the great Altar of Lugdunum to Augustus on August 1, 10 B.C., the very day that his youngest son, Claudius (who struck this aureus in posthumous remembrance 50 years after his death) was born. However, Drusus' great possibilities ended tragically in 9 B.C. when he died of injuries he received falling off a horse at age 29.
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