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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Roman Coins| ▸ |The Twelve Caesars| ▸ |Claudius||View Options:   | | | Claudius was one of the most capable, yet unlikely emperors. Shunned as an idiot by his family due to a limp and embarrassing stutter, Claudius spent the first decades of his life absorbed in scholarly studies until the death of his nephew Caligula. After Caligula's murder, the Praetorian Guard found him hiding behind a curtain in the Imperial Palace, expecting to be murdered. Instead, the guard proclaimed him emperor. His reign was marred by personal catastrophes, most notably promiscuity and betrayal by his third wife. He governed well and conquered the troublesome island of Britain. He was poisoned by his fourth wife, Agrippina Jr., mother of Nero. |
A brockage occurs when a blank is struck with a previously struck coin which adhered to the opposite die. Click here to read a detailed explanation.
Antonius Felix was the procurator before whom St. Paul was brought for trial. "And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ." - Acts 24:27JD111780. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6376f (also a brockage), Meshorer TJC 342g (same); cf. RPC I 4970 (normal coin), aVF, weight 2.464 g, maximum diameter 17.4 mm, Jerusalem mint, under Claudius, 54 A.D.; obverse IOY/ΛIA AΓ/PIΠΠI/NA (Julia Agrippina [wife of Claudius]) in four lines within a wreath tied at the bottom with an X; reverse same as obverse incuse and retrograde (brockage, normal reverse: two crossed palm fronds); ex CNG e-auction 510 (23 Feb 2022), lot 542; ex Dr. Jay M. Galst Collection; $120.00 (€110.40)
PNR may stand for pondus nummi restitutum (the weight of the coinage restored) or ponderum norma restituta (the standard of weights restored). This interesting obverse likely commemorates a weight improvement for certain denominations.RB111552. Copper quadrans, RIC I 85, BMCRE I 174, BnF I 181, Hunter I 74, Cohen I 71, SRCV I 1864, F, green patina, scratches, weight 3.101 g, maximum diameter 17.8 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 41 A.D.; obverse TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG, hand holding scales, PNR between the pans; reverse PON M TR P IMP COS DES IT (high priest, holder of Tribunitian power, imperator, designated for consul for the 2nd time), legend around large S C; ex Numismatik Naumann auction 124 (8 Jan 2023), lot 945 (part of); $80.00 (€73.60)
Ceres' known mythology is indistinguishable from Demeter's. Her virgin daughter Proserpina (Persephone) was abducted by Hades to be his wife in the underworld. Ceres searched for her endlessly lighting her way through the earth with torches. While Ceres (Demeter) searched, she was preoccupied with her loss and her grief. The seasons halted; living things ceased their growth, then began to die. Some say that in her anger she laid a curse on the world that caused plants to wither and die, and the land to become desolate. Faced with the extinction of all life on earth, Zeus sent his messenger Hermes to the underworld to bring Proserpina back. However, because she had eaten while in the underworld, Hades had a claim on her. Therefore, it was decreed that she would spend four months each year in the underworld. During these months Ceres grieves for her daughter's absence, withdrawing her gifts from the world, creating winter. Proserpina's return brings the spring.RB110715. Orichalcum dupondius, RIC I 110, BMCRE I 197, BnF II 222, Hunter I 84, Cohen I 1, SRCV I 1856, aF, porosity, corrosion, marks, slightly off center, weight 10.850 g, maximum diameter 29.1 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, 50 - 54 A.D.; obverse TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P, bare head left; reverse CERES AVGVSTA, Ceres seated left on ornamented throne, veiled, two stalks grain in right hand, torch across lap cradled in left hand and arm, feet on footstool, S C (senatus consulto) in exergue; $100.00 (€92.00)
Minerva was ancient even to the Romans. She was of Italian or Etruscan origin and directly identified with the Greek Athena. Although a war goddess, she was also the patron of handicrafts and of wisdom. The latter is probably what made her attractive to Claudius who reportedly authored several histories, none of which, unfortunately, have survived.RB110690. Copper as, RIC I 100, Hunter I 62, BMCRE I 149, BnF II 179, Cohen I 84, SRCV I 1861, F, green patina, slightly off center, weight 10.011 g, maximum diameter 27.5 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, 41 - 42 A.D.; obverse TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP, bare head left; reverse Minerva striding right, brandishing javelin in right, shield on left arm, S - C (senatus consulto) flanking low across field; $95.00 (€87.40)
Claudius, 25 January 41 - 13 October 54 A.D., Roman Egypt
RPC I quotes Walker’s surface analysis of Claudius billon at 21 - 26% silver, a significant drop from the 30% silver for those of Tiberius.
The ancients did not all agree on the attributes of Serapis. A passage in Tacitus affirms that many recognized in this god, Aesculapius, imputing healing to his intervention; some thought him identical with Osiris, the oldest deity of the Egyptians; others regarded him as Jupiter, possessing universal power; but by most he was believed to be the same as Pluto, the "gloomy" Dis Pater of the infernal regions. The general impression of the ancients seems to have been that by Serapis, was to be understood the beginning and foundation of things. Julian II consulted the oracle of Apollo for the purpose of learning whether Pluto and Serapis were different gods; and he received for an answer that Jupiter-Serapis and Pluto were one and the same divinity.SH110653. Billon drachm, RPC I 5136 (4 spec.); BMC Alexandria p. , 78; Kampmann 12.25; Emmett 76/3 (R4); Geissen -; Dattari -; SNG Hunterian -, F, dark patina, earthen deposits, scratches, porosity, weight 3.330 g, maximum diameter 16.0 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, 42 - 43 A.D.; obverse TI KΛ KA CE AY, laureate head right, L Γ (year 3) right; reverse draped bust of Serapis right, kalathos on head; the best of this type known to FORVM; very rare; $1250.00 (€1150.00)
Judaea, Antonius Felix, Roman Procurator under Claudius and Nero, 52 - 60 A.D.
In 54 A.D., violence erupted in Caesarea in response to a local ordinance restricting the rights of Jews. Jews and pagans clashed. The Roman garrison, made up of Syrians, sided with the pagans. Jews, armed with clubs and swords, gathered in the marketplace. Antonius Felix ordered his troops to charge. Violence continued and Felix asked Nero to arbitrate. Nero, sided with the pagans only increasing the Jews' anger.JD111328. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6376; Meshorer TJC 342; BMC Palestine p. 261, 1; Sofaer pl. 220, 62; RPC I 4970, F, green patina, earthen encrustation, scratches, obv. edge beveled, prominent sprue cut, weight 2.688 g, maximum diameter 16.8 mm, die axis 0o, Jerusalem mint, under Claudius, 54 A.D.; obverse IOY/ΛIA AΓ/PIΠΠI/NA (Julia Agrippina [wife of Claudius]) in four lines within a wreath tied at the bottom with an X; reverse TI KΛAYΔIOC KAICAP ΓEPM (Tiberius Claudius Caesar Germanicus), two crossed palm fronds, L IΔ (year 14) below; $80.00 (€73.60)
Claudius, 25 January 41 - 13 October 54 A.D., Gadara, Decapolis
| Gadara (Um Qais, Jordan), located on a mountain summit about 6 miles south-east of the Sea of Galilee, was the capital of the Roman province Peraea. The local era of Gadara (Pompeian) began in 64 B.C. Mark (5:1) and Luke (8:26-39) describe the miracle healing of a demoniac (Matthew [8:28-34] says two demoniacs) in the country of the Gadarenes. |  |
Claudius, 25 January 41 - 13 October 54 A.D., Koinon of Galatia
The reverse inscription names the authority under whom this coin was struck, Annius Afrinus, the legatus Augusti (governor) in Galatia, c. 49 - 54 A.D.RP99638. Bronze AE 21, RPC I 3559, SNG BnF 2396, Waddington 6592, Lindgren I 1671, gF, green patina, earthen deposits, porous, reverse center weakly struck, weight 5.732 g, maximum diameter 20.9 mm, die axis 270o, Pessinus or Ancyra mint, c. 49 - 54 A.D.; obverse KAISAP (downward behind, S reversed), laureate head right; reverse EΠI / AΦPI/NOY (under the authority of Afrinus) in three lines within wreath; ex CNG e-auction 513 (6 Apr 2022), lot 286; rare; $90.00 (€82.80)
Claudius, 25 January 41 - 13 October 54 A.D., Gadara, Decapolis
| Gadara (Um Qais, Jordan), located on a mountain summit about 6 miles south-east of the Sea of Galilee, was the capital of the Roman province Peraea. The local era of Gadara (Pompeian) began in 64 B.C. Mark (5:1) and Luke (8:26-39) describe the miracle healing of a demoniac (Matthew [8:28-34] says two demoniacs) in the country of the Gadarenes. | |
Judaea, Antonius Felix, Roman Procurator Under Claudius and Nero, 52 - 60 A.D.
Minted by Antonius Felix, Roman Procurator of Judaea, 52 - 60 A.D., in the names of Nero and Britannicus Caesars, the stepson and son respectively of the emperor Claudius.JD99081. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6377; Meshorer TJC 340; Sofaer 59; BMC Palestine p. 264, 21; RPC I 4971, aF, thick green patina, weight 2.695 g, maximum diameter 17.0 mm, die axis 0o, Jerusalem mint, under Nero, 54 A.D.; obverse NEPW KΛAV KAICAP (Nero Claudius Caesar), two crossed oblong shields with two crossed spears on far side; reverse BPIT (Britannicus), six-branched palm bearing two bunches of dates, L - IΔ / K-AI (year 14 of Caesar) flanking trunk; $40.00 (€36.80)
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