Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Antonia Minor. Silver Denarius (3.85 g), Augusta, AD 37 and 41. Rome, under Claudius, ca. AD 41-45. ANTONIA AVGVSTA, draped bust of Antonia right, hair tied in short queue at back of neck, wreathed with grain ears. Reverse CONSTANTIAE AVGVSTI, Antonia, as Constantia, standing facing, holding long torch and cornucopiae. RIC 66; BMC 111; RSC 2. An incredible example, boldly struck in high relief, on a full size flan and perfectly centered. Excellent metal and attractive old cabinet toning. Among the finest in existance. Superb Extremely Fine.

Antonia was the younger daughter of Mark Antony and Octavia in 36 BC. In either 18 or 16 BC, she married Nero Claudius Drusus, to whom she bore three children: Germanicus, Livilla and Claudius. Although initially honored with the title of Augusta by her grandson, Caligula, she eventually fell out of favor with him, committing suicide in AD 37 possibly as a result. Her son Claudius reconfirmed the title on her posthumously in AD 41.

RIC notes that the reverse of this type emphasizes Antonia "as the model for Claudius' Constantia and also as the priestess of Divus Augustus, from whom imperial auctoritas ultimately flowed."
Estimated Value $20,000 - 25,000.
Ex Tradart (12 December 1991), 251; Fred Baldwin Collection (Glendining, 20 November 1969), 35.