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Claudius



1. Biography
2. Coinage
2.1. Some general notes
2.2. Portrait
2.3. The Types
2.4. Coins


1. Biography

Tiberius Claudius Nero, born on August 1st 10 BC at Lugdunum, was the son of Drusus Mairo and Antonia Minor and thus a grandnephew of Augustus. Because he suffered from an unknown illness that limited his physical abilities, he wasn't allowed to hold any public office. Even after his physical strength was getting better during the reign of Tiberius, it was only under Caligula that he was admitted to the senate. After Caligula's murder, Claudius, as the last representative of the dynasty, was made emperor. His rule was quite successful, both in foreign and domestic policy. When he got older, however, his health rapidly started to decline. It was his fourth wife Agrippina Minor who supported him while arranging that her son Nero was adopted by Claudius, who made him heir of the throne. On October 13th 54 AD, Claudius died of mushroom poisoning. Both in ancient and in modern times, people suspected that it was murder, arranged by his wife Agrippina.


2. Coinage

2.1. Some general notes Claudius slightly raised the weight of the Denarius to 3.60-3.85 g and of the Sestertius to 27.50-29.50 g while reducing the weight of the Dupondius to 13.00-15.00 g. The silver content of the Denarii was at about 98 %, but there are lots of plated imitations, named Subaerati, issued by ancient forgers. There also exist numerous imitations of the AE coinage, which, however, are believed to have been issued by locale authorities to satisfy local demands.

2.2. Portrait

There mainly are two portrait types for Claudius, the first strongly showing his advanced age while the second is more idealizing. Both show the main characteristic of Claudius' portraits: his very muscular neck.

Different portrait-types of Claudius.
41-50 n. Chr.42-43 n. Chr.46-47 n. Chr.50-54 n. Chr.


2.3. The Types

Apart from some coin types that show his parents, his stepson Nero or Germanicus, most of Claudius' coins show religious topics, illustrating the piety of the emperor.

One of the most beautiful coin types of Claudius is this Sestertius, struck 41-50 AD in Rome. The obverse shows Claudius to right with the legend TI CLAVDVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P. The reverse shows the triumphal arch erected by his father Drusus on the Via Appia with a statue of the successful general atop and two trophies aside. This reverse type also exists for Aurei and Denarii.


2.4. Coins


Legend-combinations alphabetically sortedAll legends

ObverseReverse
AGRIPPINA AVG GERMANICI CAESARIS AVG
AGRIPPINA AVG GERMANICI F CAESARIS AVG
AGRIPPINA M F GERMANICI CAESARIS
AGRIPPINAE AVGVSTAE
ANTONIA AVGVSTA
DIVVS AVGVSTVS S C
GERMANICVS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N
MESSALLINA AVGVSTA
NERO CLAVD CAES DRVS GERM PRINC IVVENT
NERO CLAVD CAES DRVSVS GERM PRINC IVVENT
NERO CLAVD DRVSVS GERMANICVS IMP
NERO CLAVDIVS DRVSVS GERMANICVS IMP
NERONI CLAVD CAES DRVSO GERM
NERONI CLAVDIO DRVSO GERM COS DESIGN
NERONI CLAVDIO DRVSO GERMANICO COS DESIG
TI CLAVD CAES AVG
TI CLAVD CAES AVG AGRIPP AVGVSTA
TI CLAVD CAES AVG AGRIPPI AVGVSTA
TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG AGRIPPINA AVGVSTA
TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR P
TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG GERM P M TRIB POT P P
TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P
TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P III
TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P IIII
TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P VI IMP X
TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P VI IMP XI
TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P VIIII IMP XVI
TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P VIIII IMP XVIII
TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P X IMP P P
TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P X IMP XIIX
TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P X P P IMP XVIII
TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P XI IMP P P COS V
TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG
TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR P
TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG IMP P M TR P
TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP
TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P
AGRIPPINA AVGVSTA CAESARIS AVG
AGRIPPINAE AVGVSTAE
CERES AVGVSTA S C
COM ASI
CONSTANTAE AVGVSTI S C
CONSTANTIAE AVGVSTI
CONSTANTIAE AVGVSTI S C
COS DES PRINC IVVENT
DE BRITANN
DE BRITANNI
DE BRITANNIS
DE GERM
DE GERMANI
DE GERMANIS
DIAN EPHE
DIANA EPHESIA
DIVA AVGVSTA
EQVESTER ORDO PRINCIPI IVVENT
EX S C OB CIVES SERVATOS
EX S C P P OB CIVES SERVATOS
IMPER RECEPT
LIBERTA AVGVSTA S C
LIBERTAS AVGVSTA S C
NERO CLAVD CAES DRVSVS GERM PRINC IVVENT
NERO CLAVDIVS DRVSVS GERMAN IMP S C
NERO CLAVDIVS DRVSVS GERMANI IMP S C
OCTAVIA BRITANNICVS ANTONIA
P P OB CIVES SERVATOS
PACI AVGVSTAE
PON M TR P IMP COS DES IT
PON M TR P IMP COS II
PON M TR P IMP P P COS II
PON MAX TR POT IMP
PON MAXI TR POT IMP
PRAETOR RECEPT
ROM ET AVG
S C
S P Q R P P OB C S
SACERD COOPT IN OMN CONL SVPRA NVM EX SC
SACERDOS DIVI AVGVSTI
SPES AVGVSTA S C
TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR P IMP
TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR P IMP P P
TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR P MIP
TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P S C
TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP S C
VICTORIA AVGVSTI
(No legend)