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Antonia Minor. Augusta, AD 37 and 41. Æ Dupondius (30mm, 16.46 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Claudius, AD 42-43. Draped bust right / Claudius, veiled and togate, standing left, holding simpulum and volumen. RIC I 104 (Claudius); von Kaenel Type 74. Brown and green patina, light roughness, area of minor smoothing on reverse. Good VF. Attractive portrait.
Ex Conti Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 121, 7 October 2022), lot 787; Artemide XLIX (28 April 2018), lot 177; Astarte VII (10 October 2001), lot 425.
Antonia was the daughter of Mark Antony and Octavia, sister of Augustus, and was raised in the household of her illustrious uncle. In 16 BC she was married to Nero Claudius Drusus, the stepson of Augustus, to whom she bore the great general Germanicus and his brother, future emperor Claudius. Her reputation as a model of matronly virtues kept her afloat, and alive, during the turbulent reigns of the early Julio-Claudian emperors. It was her testimony against her own daughter, Livilla, that saved Tiberius from the conspiracy of his ambitious Praetorian Prefect, Sejanus. Her “reward” was to oversee the execution of Livilla by starvation. Antonia was vocal in her criticism of Caligula’s debauchery; his reaction was to force her to commit suicide at the age of 73 in AD 37. Antonia was never fond of her surviving son, Claudius, but after he became emperor in AD 41, he nevertheless honored her with the posthumous title of Augusta and the striking of coins in gold, silver and bronze coins bearing her image.
The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 129 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 13-14 May 2025. This lot is in Session Two, which will begin 13 May at 2 PM 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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