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Livia Drusilla

Livia Drusilla, also called Julia, was the daughter of Livius Calidianus of the Claudia family, and the fourth wife of Augustus. She first was espoused to Tiberius Claudius Nero, by whom she was yielded up to Augustus, who divorced his third wife Scribonia in order to marry her; she being already mother of Tiberius, and pregnant with Nero Drusus. Handsome, and of great abilities, yet proud, cruel, and unprincipled, she compassed the deaths of Augustus's heirs, Marcellus, Agrippa junior, and Germanicus, in order to raise her son Tiberius to the imperial throne.

The coins of this princess, of Roman mintage, do not bear her portrait. She is represented as JVSTITIA, as PIETAS, and as SALVS, on second brass (which are scarce) struck under Tiberius: the two latter restored by Titus. A first brass with the head of Justice is very rare. (See IVSTITIA) It was after the death of Augustus that she took the name of Julia, and these pieces are of that epocha. - On Latin coins she is always styled IVLIA AVGVSTA. - On some Greek medals she is called LIVIA. - The legend AVGVSTA MATER PATRIAE is found on a coin struck in her honour by some unknown colony.

Please add updates or make corrections to the NumisWiki text version as appropriate.

Livia Drusilla

Livia Drusilla, also called Julia, was the daughter of Livius Calidianus of the Claudia family, and the fourth wife of Augustus. She first was espoused to Tiberius Claudius Nero, by whom she was yielded up to Augustus, who divorced his third wife Scribonia in order to marry her; she being already mother of Tiberius, and pregnant with Nero Drusus. Handsome, and of great abilities, yet proud, cruel, and unprincipled, she compassed the deaths of Augustus's heirs, Marcellus, Agrippa junior, and Germanicus, in order to raise her son Tiberius to the imperial throne.

The coins of this princess, of Roman mintage, do not bear her portrait. She is represented as JVSTITIA, as PIETAS, and as SALVS, on second brass (which are scarce) struck under Tiberius: the two latter restored by Titus. A first brass with the head of Justice is very rare. (See IVSTITIA) It was after the death of Augustus that she took the name of Julia, and these pieces are of that epocha. - On Latin coins she is always styled IVLIA AVGVSTA. - On some Greek medals she is called LIVIA. - The legend AVGVSTA MATER PATRIAE is found on a coin struck in her honour by some unknown colony.