Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature Sale 3033 8 August 2014
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Claudius (AD 41-54). AV aureus (19mm, 7.78 gm, 3h). Rome or Lugdunum, ca. AD 46-47. TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P VI IMP XI, laureate head of Claudius right / S · P · Q · R / P · P /OB C · S within wreath. RIC 40. Calicó 379a. Very rare. Surely among the finest known Claudius aurei. NGC Choice MS 5/5 - 5/5.From The Lexington Collection of Jonathan K. Kern.A childhood illness left the young Claudius him with a limp, a stammer, and other uncouth qualities that made him the black sheep of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. While these problems barred him from a political career, such exclusion also granted him immunity from the family's murderous intrigues. Upon Caligula's assassination in January, AD 41, Claudius was the sole surviving Julio-Claudian male and, when members of the Praetorian Guard found him cowering behind a curtain in the palace, they immediately acclaimed him as Emperor. Once installed in power, Claudius surprised everyone by ruling with intelligence and moderation. Like his predecessor Caligula, Claudius was awarded the Corona Civica, an oak wreath crown, for saving the lives of his fellow citizens. Ironically Caligula had been given the award soon after his accession, during his brief "honeymoon" with the Senate and people, for "saving" the Roman populace from the bloody tyranny of Tiberius. Claudius in turn received it for rescuing the citizenry from the murderous Caligula! Like Caligula, Claudius chose to display the Corona Civica on his bronze, silver and gold coinage. The beautiful aureus seen here combines an uncommonly realistic and detailed portrait of Claudius with a beautiful rendition of the oak crown.
Estimate: 60000-85000 USD
Claudius (AD 41-54). AV aureus (19mm, 7.78 gm, 3h). Rome or Lugdunum, ca. AD 46-47. TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P VI IMP XI, laureate head of Claudius right / S · P · Q · R / P · P /OB C · S within wreath. RIC 40. Calicó 379a. Very rare. Surely among the finest known Claudius aurei. NGC Choice MS 5/5 - 5/5.From The Lexington Collection of Jonathan K. Kern.A childhood illness left the young Claudius him with a limp, a stammer, and other uncouth qualities that made him the black sheep of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. While these problems barred him from a political career, such exclusion also granted him immunity from the family's murderous intrigues. Upon Caligula's assassination in January, AD 41, Claudius was the sole surviving Julio-Claudian male and, when members of the Praetorian Guard found him cowering behind a curtain in the palace, they immediately acclaimed him as Emperor. Once installed in power, Claudius surprised everyone by ruling with intelligence and moderation. Like his predecessor Caligula, Claudius was awarded the Corona Civica, an oak wreath crown, for saving the lives of his fellow citizens. Ironically Caligula had been given the award soon after his accession, during his brief "honeymoon" with the Senate and people, for "saving" the Roman populace from the bloody tyranny of Tiberius. Claudius in turn received it for rescuing the citizenry from the murderous Caligula! Like Caligula, Claudius chose to display the Corona Civica on his bronze, silver and gold coinage. The beautiful aureus seen here combines an uncommonly realistic and detailed portrait of Claudius with a beautiful rendition of the oak crown.
Estimate: 60000-85000 USD