The Coinage of the Lady Antonia of the Julio Claudian Dynasty- Joe Geranio

In History I do not see a fine lady as the noble Antonia. Her bloodline is sure; one of two daughters of Mark Antony and Octavia Minor. She was niece to Augustus and sister in law to the guarded Tiberius

during the mad days of Sejanus, which she was used to help ferret out the truth regarding the corrupted reign of Sejanus. She was born in Athens, Greece and after 36 BC was brought to Rome by her

mother and her siblings. Antonia never had the chance to know her father, Mark Antony, who divorced her mother in 32 BC and committed suicide in 30 BC. She was raised by her mother, her uncle and her

aunt, Livia Drusilla. Due to inheritances, she owned properties in Italy, Greece and Egypt. She was a wealthy and influential woman who often received people who were visiting Rome. Antonia had many male

friends and they included wealthy Jew Alexander the Alabarch and Lucius Vitellius, a consul and father of future Emperor Aulus Vitellius. (wiki)

31 A.D. Conflict

In 31 AD, Antonia exposed a plot by her daughter Livilla and Tiberius� notorious Praetorian prefect, Sejanus, to murder the Emperor Tiberius and Caligula and to seize the throne for themselves. Livilla had

allegedly poisoned her husband, Tiberius' son,Drusus Julius Caesar (nicknamed "Castor") to remove him as a rival. Sejanus was executed on Tiberius� orders, and Livilla was handed over to her formidable mother

for punishment. Cassius Dio states that Antonia imprisoned Livilla in her room until she starved to death. (wiki)

Succession of Caligula and death

When Tiberius died, Caligula became emperor in March 37 AD. Caligula awarded her a senatorial decree, granting her all the honors that Livia Drusilla had received in her lifetime. She was also offered the

title of Augusta, previously only given to Augustus's wife Livia, but rejected it.Six months into his reign, Caligula became seriously ill and never recovered, (although according to some sources, the illness was

feigned). Antonia would often offer Caligula advice, but he once told her, "I can treat anyone exactly as I please!". Caligula was rumored to have had his young cousin Gemellus beheaded, to remove him as a

rival to the throne. This act was said to have outraged Antonia, who was grandmother to Gemellus as well as to Caligula.Having had enough of Caligula�s anger at her criticisms and of his behavior, she

committed suicide. Suetonius�s Caligula, clause 23, mentions how he might have poisoned her.

When his grandmother Antonia asked for a private interview, he refused it except in the presence of the prefect Macro, and by such indignities and annoyances he caused her death; although some think that he also gave her poison. After she was dead, he paid her no honour, but viewed her burning pyre from his dining-room.

When Claudius became emperor after his nephew�s assassination in 41 AD, he gave his mother the title of Augusta. Her birthday became a public holiday, which had yearly games and public sacrifices held. An

image of her was paraded in a carriage. (wiki)

Then comes the coinage not struck by Caligula with the exception of this one provincial piece from Macedon, Thessalonica with Caligula on obverse and Antonia draped bust. Antonia did have some success helping and advising Caligula early on and we know what happened after her death. I believe it was a major blow not to have Antonia near Caligula when she died in 37 A.D. at the beginning of his reign.

MACEDON, Thessalonica. Gaius (Caligula), with Antonia. AD 37-41. � (22mm, 9.53 g, 12h). Laureate head of Caligula left / Veiled, diademed, and draped bust of Antonia left. Touratsoglou 15-20 var. (V10/R15 [unrecorded die combination]); RPC I 1574. cng

In 41-42 A.D. under Claudius some beautiful aureii and denarii were struck of the Lady Antonia which are among my favorites. The first is RIC 65 and RIC 66 one in gold and the other silver show: ANTONIA MINOR. Died 37 AD. AV Aureus (7.76 g, 1h). Rome mint. Struck under Claudius, 41-42 AD. ANTONIA AVGVSTA, laureate and draped bust right / CONSTANTIAE AVGVSTI, Antonia, as Constantia, standing facing, holding long torch in right hand, cornucopiae in left. RIC I 65 (Claudius); von Kaenel Type 16, 316 (V253/R261); Lyon 108 (unlisted dies); Calic� 318; BMCRE 109 (Claudius); BN 9 (Claudius); Cohen 1. (Image and description courtesy CNG)

Then there was one more set of Aureii and Denarii of Antonia with the two long torches linked with ribbons which is my favorite AR and AV: GOLD ANTONIA MINOR. Aureus 41-45, AV 7.72 g. 20 mm. ANTONIA � AVGVSTA Draped bust r., wearing crown of corn-ears. Rev. SACERDOS � DIVI � AVGVSTI Two long torches alighted and linked by ribbon. C 4. BMC Claudius 112. CBN Claudius 15. RIC Claudius 67. Calic� 319.

SILVER: ANTONIA MINOR. Died 37 AD. AR Denarius (3.62 g, 8h). Rome mint. Struck under Claudius, 41-42 AD. ANTONIA AVGVSTA, laureate and draped bust right / SACERDOS DIVI AVGVSTI, two long torches linked by ribbon. RIC I 68 (Claudius); von Kaenel Type 15 (unlisted dies); Lyon 31 (Lugdunum); RSC 5; BMCRE 114 (Claudius); cf. BN 15 (Claudius; aureus). (Image and description courtesy CNG)

Last but not least we have the dupondius struck under Claudius in the same year starting 41-42 A.D., these honors seemed to have moved quickly and rightly so under princeps Claudius. I love this portrait which

matches up well with her portraits in the round for Imperial portraiture.

Antonia Minor. Augusta, AD 37 and 41. � Dupondius (31mm, 16.74 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Claudius. Draped bust right / Claudius, togate, standing left, holding simpulum. RIC I 104 (Claudius); von Kaenel Type 74.

Antonia Minor in front of Ara Pacis. J. Geranio

Joe Geranio

JCIA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonia_Minor