Roman Silver & Bronze Coins - Imperial

Lot 4220    SESSION 19 (2.30PM FRIDAY 12TH APRIL)    Roman Silver & Bronze Coins - Imperial

Estimate $250
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $150

CLAUDIUS, (A.D. 41-54), AE sestertius, Rome Mint, issued A.D. 42, (23.70 g), obv. laureate head of Claudius to right, around TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TR P IMP P P, obv. SPES AVGVSTA around, Spes draped advancing to left, right hand holding flower, left raising skirt, S C in exergue, countermarked NCAPR in rectangular block, (S.1853, BMC 192, RIC 115, cf.C.85, CBN 165). Toned, full weight, very good, very rare with countermark.

Ex Baldwins London c.1995 with their priced ticket.
This interesting countermark was struck upon the base metal coinage during the first eight to ten years of Nero's reign when only gold and silver was minted in his name from the mint of Rome. Speculation as to why it was used and what its translation is varies according to which theory one adheres to. These are the two most common translations :
1. Nero Claudius Augustus Probavit. Roughly, "with the approval of Nero Claudius, the Augustus."
2. Nero Claudius Augustus Populo Romano. Roughly, "from Nero Claudius, the Augustus, to the people of Rome."
In the first case it is the revalidation of the coins of Nero's three immediate predecessors (Tiberius. Caligula and Claudius). But in the second instance it is a "congiarium." or public dole given by Nero sometime after his succession to the throne. Originally in the form of wine or grain it later developed into the custom of monetary donations given by the emperors to the populace of Rome. Since the greater majority of those specimens found to date are from either the mint of Rome or Lugdunum and show very little wear to necessitate countermarking, then the second of the two translations is probably correct. (coin talk February 2020).