Roman Silver & Bronze Coins - Provincial

Lot 4351    SESSION 16 (9.30AM FRIDAY 29TH JULY)    Roman Silver & Bronze Coins - Provincial

Estimate $300
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $440

LYDIA, Tralles (as Caesarea), Claudius with Messalina and Britannicus, struck c.43-49 A.D., bronze AE 20, (4.70 g), obv. traces of TI KA**L*AY KAI CEBAC, bust of Messalina and laureate head of Claudius facing one another, rev. around BPETANNIKO**S KAISAPEWN*, Britannicus in toga, standing left, holding grain ears, (S.496, RPC I 2654, SNG Cop. 691, BMC 124, Mabbott 1861 [This Coin]). Even light brown patination, very fine and very rare.

Ex M.R.Roberts (via David Allen) coming from the David Foulger Collection (d.1988), acquired in 1989 for $595 (in 2x2 Hagner coin holder with lot), it was previously from the Collection of Thomas Ollive Mabbott (July 6, 1898 - May 15, 1968), sold by Hans M.F. Schulman, New York, June 6, 1969, (lot 1861, where it realised $40US).

Tiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus (12 February AD 41 to 11 February AD 55), usually called Britannicus, was the son of Roman emperor Claudius and his third wife Valeria Messalina. For a time he was considered his father's heir, but that changed after his mother's downfall in 48. The next year, his father married Agrippina the Younger, Claudius' fourth and final marriage. Their marriage was followed by the adoption of Agrippina's son, Lucius Domitius, whose name became Nero as a result. His step-brother would later be married to Britannicus' sister Octavia, and soon eclipsed him as Claudius' heir. Following his father's death in October 54, Nero became emperor. The sudden death of Britannicus shortly before his fourteenth birthday is reported by all extant sources as being the result of poisoning on Nero's orders. As Claudius' natural son, he represented a threat to Nero's claim to the throne.