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| Classical Numismatic Group > Auction 40 | Auction date: 4 December 1996 |
| Lot number: 1383 | |
| Lot description: BRITANNICUS, son of Claudius and Messalina. Died 55 AD. Æ Sestertius (25.79 gm). Struck under Titus, circa 80 AD. Uncertain eastern provincial mint. TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG F BRITA[NNIC]VS, bare-headed and draped bust left / S-C across field, Mars advancing left, holding spear and shield. RIC I pg.130, note; BMCRE 226 (Claudius) and 306 (Titus, same dies?); H.-M. von Kaenel, "Britannicus, Agrippina Minor und Nero in Thrakien," SNR 63 (1984), type B, 6 variety; Cohen 2. VF, brown patina. The finest known variety with bust left. ($40,000) Coins of Britannicus are exceptionally rare. For a recent sale of another sestertius of Britannicus, see Harlan J. Berk, Ltd., 83rd Buy or Bid Sale (October 26, 1994), lot 912, estimated at $60,000 and, although very nice, is not quite as nice as this one. (NEW PARAGRAPH)Britannicus was the son of the emperor Claudius and Messalina and was born about 41 or 42 AD. He was originally named Germanicus, but was renamed Britannicus in honour of his father's successful British invasion of 43. In 55 while dining with friends, he was poisoned and died. The murder was almost certainly ordered by Nero who wanted to clear the way for his own succession to the throne. (NEW PARAGRAPH)The traditional dating of the coins of Britannicus to the end of Claudius' reign circa 54 (a period when the mint at Rome was not producing any aes coinage) has been challenged by recent scholarship. As postulated in BMCRE II, pg. lxxviii, the revised dating to the reign of Titus circa 80 is much more likely. As a youth, the emperor Titus was Britannicus' closest friend, and he was even seriously affected by the same poison that killed his friend. Just as he issued 'restitution' coins honoring members of the imperial line, it is natural that he would also have issued coins honoring Britannicus who missed the honors, including coinage, that were his due. |  |
