Claudius. AD 41-54. AR Denarius (17.5mm, 3.83 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 51-52. Choice EF.

Triton XXVII
Lot: 684. Estimated: $ 7 500

Roman Imperial, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 11 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Claudius. AD 41-54. AR Denarius (17.5mm, 3.83 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 51-52. TI CLAVD CAESAR • AVG • P • M • TR • P • XI • IMP • P • P COS V, laureate head right / PACI AVGVSTAE, Nemesis, winged and draped, advancing right, her right arm is bent upwards and with right hand she pulls out a fold of her robe below the neck, holding in left hand a winged caduceus pointed downwards at a serpent gliding right before her. RIC I 62; von Kaenel Type 44, 752 (V638/R655); RSC 68; BMCRE 69; BN 71 (Lugdunum). Beautiful deep and iridescent toning. Choice EF. Perfectly centered on both sides. A very attractive coin.

Ex G.W. Trow Collection; New York Sale XXXIV (6 January 2015), lot 532; C.K. Collection (Triton XIV, 4 January 2011), lot 648; Leu 86 (5 May 2003), lot 765.

Nemesis is the goddess who enacts divine retribution on those who display hubris, or arrogance before the gods. By Roman times she is usually depicted as a winged woman holding out a fold of her garment before her, expressing aversion by spitting upon her bosom (supposedly humans could avoid her anger by making the same gesture). From early in his reign, Claudius employed on his coins a version of Nemesis sharing some features with Pax (Peace) along with the legend PACI AVGVSTAE ("the Emperor’s peace"). Claudius’s Nemisis coinage starts in AD 43 and probably refers to his invasion and subsequent conquest of Britain, with Rome meting out “divine retribution” on the arrogant British tribes. “The Emperor’s peace” presumably refers to Britannia being brought within the Pax Romana, albeit by force of arms. Nine decades later Hadrian would employ a similar reverse as a reference to the Bar Kochba conflict.

The final winners of all Triton XXVII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 9-10 January 2024.

Triton XXVII – Session Three – Lot 648–983 will be held Wednesday morning, 10 January 2024 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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