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Triton XXV 11-12 Jan 2022
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Claudius, with Agrippina Junior. AD 41-54. AV Aureus (19mm, 7.75 g, 6h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck AD 50-51. TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG GERM P M TRIB POT P P, laureate head of Claudius right / AGRIPPINAE AVGVSTAE, draped bust of Agrippina right, wearing wreath of grain ears and hair in long plait taken up, two locks falling loosely down neck. RIC I 80; von Kaenel Type 50 (unlisted dies); Lyon 82 (unlisted dies); Calicó 396e; BMCRE 72-4; BN 76-81; Adda 25; Biaggi 215-6; Jameson 45; Mazzini 3. Lustrous, obverse die flaws, faint hairline. Near EF. Wonderful portrait of Agrippina.
Ex Harlan J. Berk inventory cc32414 (ND); Numismatica Ars Classica 15 (18 May 1999), lot 298.
Agrippina Junior was the great-granddaughter of Augustus, daughter of the paragon Germanicus and his admirable wife Agrippina Senior, and sister to the Emperor Gaius "Caligula." With bloodlines such as these it was only natural that she chose not to play the traditional Roman woman's role of dutiful subordinate. Her grand-uncle Tiberius arranged her marriage at age 13 to Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, a Roman aristocrat who achieved the Consulship in AD 32. During her brother Caligula's reign she was initially accorded high honors, including all the rights and privileges of the Vestal Virgins. During this period of favor she gave birth to a son, Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. After Drusilla's death in June of AD 38, Caligula's affection cooled for his surviving two sisters, and in 39 both were exiled to the Pontine Islands. Agrippina's exile lasted until Caligula's assassination in January of AD 41; he was succeeded by his pedantic old uncle Claudius, who allowed all exiles to return. Her husband having died in 40, Agrippina courted and married another wealthy aristocrat, Gaius Sallustius Passienus Crispus, who died in AD 47, leaving her available when Claudius found himself in need of a new wife after executing Messalina in AD 48. The inconvenient fact that such a marriage would be incestuous was patched over with hasty legislation, and the two were wed on New Year's Day, AD 49. Once installed in the palace she eliminated all rivals for Claudius' affections and thrust her son into the succession arrangements. She soon became the most powerful woman Rome had yet seen, and her enhanced position is reflected in the Roman coinage.
Ex Harlan J. Berk inventory cc32414 (ND); Numismatica Ars Classica 15 (18 May 1999), lot 298.
Agrippina Junior was the great-granddaughter of Augustus, daughter of the paragon Germanicus and his admirable wife Agrippina Senior, and sister to the Emperor Gaius "Caligula." With bloodlines such as these it was only natural that she chose not to play the traditional Roman woman's role of dutiful subordinate. Her grand-uncle Tiberius arranged her marriage at age 13 to Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, a Roman aristocrat who achieved the Consulship in AD 32. During her brother Caligula's reign she was initially accorded high honors, including all the rights and privileges of the Vestal Virgins. During this period of favor she gave birth to a son, Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. After Drusilla's death in June of AD 38, Caligula's affection cooled for his surviving two sisters, and in 39 both were exiled to the Pontine Islands. Agrippina's exile lasted until Caligula's assassination in January of AD 41; he was succeeded by his pedantic old uncle Claudius, who allowed all exiles to return. Her husband having died in 40, Agrippina courted and married another wealthy aristocrat, Gaius Sallustius Passienus Crispus, who died in AD 47, leaving her available when Claudius found himself in need of a new wife after executing Messalina in AD 48. The inconvenient fact that such a marriage would be incestuous was patched over with hasty legislation, and the two were wed on New Year's Day, AD 49. Once installed in the palace she eliminated all rivals for Claudius' affections and thrust her son into the succession arrangements. She soon became the most powerful woman Rome had yet seen, and her enhanced position is reflected in the Roman coinage.