Claudius

41 - 54

After the murder of Caligula, the Praetorian Guard had to come up with a worthy successor and fast lest the Senate step in and revert back to the pre-Julius Caesar type of Republic. The only relative of Caligula they could find was Claudius who was Caligula's uncle. An otherwise unfit man to rule, Claudius was a recluse of whom little was known about by design. Because he suffered physical deformities he was kept out of the limelight to avoid embarrassment. At the age of 46 he was unveiled to the public by his uncle Caligula and he held a position as Suffect Consul or "replacement" consul. But don't get the wrong idea, this was done by Caligula entirely to spite the Senate and had nothing to do with any affection he had for Claudius himself.

Nevertheless, by bringing him out in public Claudius gained a degree of acceptance. To augment this perception it was noted that he was highly educated and not inept as an administrator. In the turn of events that was to happen next this all played out in his favor. When the Praetorian Guard thus announced his candidacy to the seat of power the Senate had to oblige and ratify the decision.

As a ruler, the only truly poor decision he made was to marry his niece. She turned out to be nothing but trouble for him and pursued an agenda of grooming her son as Claudius's replacement. She was skillful in this endeavor and easily manipulated Claudius himself to carry out her goals. When Nero's place as rightful heir was a sure thing she simply poisoned him and Nero took his place.

AU Aureus


RIC 3, Vagi 580 Aureus Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGPMTRP - Laureate head right.
Rev: No legend - Triumphal arch. $10,864 12/5/02.


RIC 5, BMC 3, C 33 Aureus Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGPMTRP - Laureate head right.
Rev: No legend - Wreath, EXSC/OBCIVES/SERVATOS within. c.41-42 (Rome).


RIC 7, C 40 Aureus Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGPMTRP - Laureate head right.
Rev: No legend - Fortification reading IMPER RECEPT; soldier with legionary eagle and secondary palisades within. $8,000 5/22/02.


RIC 13, BMC 16, C 5 Aureus Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGGERMPMTRP - Laureate head right.
Rev: CONSTANTIAEAVGVSTI - Constantia seated left, raising hand.


RIC 15, C 34 Aureus Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGGERMPMTRP - Laureate head right.
Rev: No legend - Wreath, EXSC/OBCIVES/SERVATOS within. 41-42 (Rome). $3,640 5/21/03.


RIC 25, BMC 23, BN 44, C 43 Aureus Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGPMTRPIIII - Laureate head right.
Rev: No legend - Fortification reading IMPER RECEPT; soldier with legionary eagle and secondary palisades within. c.44-45 (Rome).


RIC 27, C 55 Aureus Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGPMTRPIIII - Laureate head right.
Rev: PACIAVGVSTAE - Nemesis advancing right, holding winged caduceus pointed at snake on left and drawing veil. 44-45 (Rome). $4,500 7/1/04.


RIC 29, BMC 28, Vagi 584 Aureus Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGPMTRPIIII - Laureate head right.
Rev: PRAETORRECEPT - Claudius standing right on left, shaking hands with soldier to right, holding legionary eagle. c.44-45 (Rome). $4,753 12/5/02.


RIC 38, C 57 Aureus Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGPMTRPVIIMPXI - Laureate head right.
Rev: PACIAVGVSTAE - Nemesis advancing right, holding winged caduceus pointed at snake on left and drawing veil. 46-47 (Rome). $5,500 9/24/03.


RIC 40 Aureus Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGPMTRPVIIMPXI - Laureate head right.
Rev: No legend - Wreath, SPQR/PP/OBCS within. 46-47 (Rome).


RIC 46, BMC 51, Vagi 583, C 60 Aureus Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGPMTRPVIIIIIMPXVI - Laureate head right.
Rev: PACIAVGVSTAE - Nemesis advancing right, holding winged caduceus pointed at snake on left and drawing veil. c.49-50 (Rome). $5,432 12/5/02.


RIC 80, BMC 72, BN 76, C 3 Aureus Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGGERMPMTRIBPOTPP - Laureate head right.
Rev: AGRIPPINAEAVGVSTAE - Agrippina II laureate, draped bust right. c.42 (Rome).

AU Quinarius


Unlisted RIC, Vagi 585 Quinarius Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGPMTRP - Laureate head right.
Rev: No legend - Victory advancing left, holding shield reading OB/CS. c.41-42 (Rome). $14,937 12/5/02.

AR Tetradrachm


RIC 117, RPC 2223, BMC 234, C 2 Cistophoric Tetradrachm Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGPMTRPXIMPXIIX - Laureate head right.
Rev: AGRIPPINAAVGVSTACAESARISAVG - Agrippina II head right. 50-51 (Ephesus).


RIC 118, BMC 221, C 30 Cistophoric Tetradrachm Obv: TICLAVDCAESAVG - Bare head left.
Rev: No legend - Temple with four columns; Diana Ephesia standing within; DIAN EPHE across fields. 41-42 (Ephesus). $1,750 1/13/03.


RIC 119, BMC 231, C 1 Cistophoric Tetradrachm Obv: TICLAVDCAESAVGAGRIPPAVGVSTA - Claudius laureate bust left over Agrippina II bust left.
Rev: DIANAEPHESIA - Diana statue facing, holding modius above head. c.50-51 (Ephesus). $500 5/22/02.


RIC 120, BMC 228 Cistophoric Tetradrachm Obv: TICLAVDCAESAVG - Bare head left.
Rev: COM ASI - Temple with two columns reading ROM ET AVG; Claudius within, holding scepter and being crowned by woman, holding cornucopia. c.41-50 (Pergamum).

AR Denarius


RIC 10 Denarius Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGPMTRP - Laureate head right.
Rev: PACIAVGVSTAE - Nemesis advancing right, holding caduceus and pulling veil; snake to right.


RIC 14, BMC 13 Denarius Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGGERMPMTRP - Laureate head right.
Rev: CONSTANTIAEAVGVSTI - Constantia seated left, raising hand. 41-42 (Rome).


RIC 16 Denarius Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGGERMPMTRP - Laureate head right.
Rev: No legend - Wreath, EXSC/OBCIVES/SERVATOS within. 41-42 (Rome).


RIC 26, BMC 24 Denarius Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGPMTRPIIII - Laureate head right.
Rev: IMPERRECEPT - Fortification reading IMPER RECEPT; soldier with legionary eagle and secondary palisades within. $838 4/12/02.


RIC 32, C 8 Denarius Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGPMTRPVIIMPXI - Laureate head right.
Rev: CONSTANTIAEAVGVSTI - Constantia seated left, raising hand. 47-48 (Rome).


RIC 39, BMC 40 Denarius Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGPMTRPVIIMPXI - Laureate head right.
Rev: PACIAVGVSTAE - Nemesis advancing right, holding caduceus and pulling veil; snake to right.


RIC 41, BMC 46, BN 59, C 87 Denarius Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGPMTRPVIIMPXI - Laureate head right.
Rev: No legend - Wreath, SPQR/PP/OBCS within. 46-47 (Rome).


RIC 45, BMC 50 Denarius Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGPMTRPVIIIIIMPXVI - Laureate head right.
Rev: No legend - Triumphal arch reading DE BRITANN; statue of Claudius riding horse left with trophy on either side above. 49-50.


RIC 47, BMC 52 Denarius Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGPMTRPVIIIIIMPXVI - Laureate head right.
Rev: PACIAVGVSTAE - Nemesis advancing right, holding caduceus and pulling veil; snake to right.


RIC 58, BMC 59, C 66a Denarius Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGPMTRPXIMPXVIII - Laureate head right.
Rev: PACIAVGVSTAE - Nemesis advancing right, holding caduceus and pulling veil; snake to right. 50-51 (Rome).


RIC 60, C 94 Denarius Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGPMTRPXIMPXVIII - Laureate head right.
Rev: No legend - Wreath, SPQR/PP/OBCS within. 50-51 (Rome).


RIC 62, BMC 69 Denarius Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGPMTRPXIIMPPPCOSV - Laureate head right.
Rev: PACIAVGVSTAE - Nemesis advancing right, holding caduceus and pulling veil; snake to right.


RIC 81, BMC 75, S 1886, C 4 Denarius Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGGERMPMTRIBPOTPP - Laureate head right.
Rev: AGRIPPINAEAVGVSTAE - Agrippina II laureate, draped bust right. c.50-54 (Rome).


RIC 83, BMC 80, C 5 Denarius Obv: TICLAVDCAESARAVGGERMPMTRIBPOTPP - Laureate head right.
Rev: NEROCLAVDCAESDRVSVSGERMPRINCIVVENT - Nero bare-headed, draped bust left. 50-54 (Rome). $1,300 5/21/03.

AE Sestertius


RIC 96, BMC 115, BN 152, C 39 Sestertius Obv: TICLAVDIVSCAESARAVGPMTRPIMP - Laureate head right.
Rev: No legend - Wreath, EXSC/OB/CIVES/SERVATOS within. 41-42 (Rome). $10,000 1/13/03.


RIC 98, C 48 Sestertius Obv: TICLAVDIVSCAESARAVGPMTRPIMP - Laureate head right.
Rev: NEROCLAVDIVSDRVSVSGERMANIMP - Triumphal arch; statue of Claudius riding horse right with trophy on either side above.


RIC 99, BMC 124, BN 171, C 85 Sestertius Obv: TICLAVDIVSCAESARAVGPMTRPIMP - Laureate head right.
Rev: SPESAVGVSTA - Spes advancing left, holding flower and raising skirt. c.41-50 (Rome).


RIC 112, BMC 185, BN 209, C 38 Sestertius Obv: TICLAVDIVSCAESARAVGPMTRPIMPPP - Laureate head right.
Rev: No legend - Wreath, EXSC/PP/OBCIVES/SERVATOS within.


RIC 115, C 85 Sestertius Obv: TICLAVDIVSCAESARAVGPMTRPIMP - Laureate head right.
Rev: SPESAVGVSTA - Spes advancing left, holding flower and raising skirt.

AE Sestertius (Posthumous)


RIC 234 (Titus), BMC 297 (Titus), BN 308 (Titus), C 103 Sestertius Obv: TICLAVDIVSCAESARAVGPMTRPIMPPP - Laureate head left.
Rev: IMPTVESPAVGREST - Spes advancing left, holding flower and raising skirt; S C across fields. c.79-81 (Rome).

AE Dupondius


RIC 94 (anecdotal), BMC 139, Von Kaenel 244 Dupondius Obv: TICLAVDIVSCAESARAVGPMTRPIMP - Bare head left.
Rev: CERESAVGVSTA Exe: SC - Ceres seated left, holding grain ears and torch. 41-42 (Rome). $3,450 5/21/03.


RIC 110, BMC 197, S 1856, C 1 Dupondius Obv: TICLAVDIVSCAESARAVGPMTRPIMPPP - Bare head left.
Rev: CERESAVGVSTA Exe: SC - Ceres seated left, holding grain ears and torch. c.50-54 (Rome).

AE As


RIC 94 As Obv: TICLAVDIVSCAESARAVGPMTRPIMP - Bare head left.
Rev: CERESAVGVSTA Exe: SC - Ceres seated left, holding grain ears and torch. $37 4/3/05.


RIC 95, BMC 140 As Obv: TICLAVDIVSCAESARAVGPMTRPIMPPP - Bare head left.
Rev: CONSTANTIAEAVGVSTI - Constantia standing left, raising hand and holding scepter. 41-50 (Rome). $31 10/25/03.


RIC 97, BMC 145, S 1859, C 47 As Obv: TICLAVDIVSCAESARAVGPMTRPIMP - Bare head left
Rev: LIBERTASAVGVSTA - Libertas standing right, holding pileus and raising hand; S C across fields. 41-42 (Rome). $300 5/21/03.


RIC 100, BMC 149, BN 180, S 639 As Obv: TICLAVDIVSCAESARAVGPMTRPIMP - Bare head left.
Rev: No legend - Minerva advancing right, holding javelin and round shield; S C across fields. 41-50 (Rome).


RIC 111, BMC 201, S 1858 As Obv: TICLAVDIVSCAESARAVGPMTRPIMPPP - Bare head left.
Rev: CONSTANTIAEAVGVSTI - Constantia standing left, raising hand and holding spear; S C across fields. $365 1/31/04.


RIC 113, BMC 202, S 1860, C 47 As Obv: TICLAVDIVSCAESARAVGPMTRPIMPPP - Bare head left.
Rev: LIBERTASAVGVSTA - Libertas standing, facing, holding pileus and raising hand; S C across fields. 50-54 (Rome).


RIC 116, S 1862 As Obv: TICLAVDIVSCAESARAVGGERMPMTRPIMPPP - Bare head left
Rev: No legend - Minerva advancing right, aiming javelin and holding shield; S C across fields. 50-54 (Rome).

AE Quadrans


RIC 84, C 70 Quadrans Obv: TICLAVDIVSCAESARAVG - Hand with scales, P•N•R below.
Rev: PONMTRPIMPCOSDESIT - Large S C.


RIC 90, BN 195, S 1865, C 72 Quadrans Obv: TICLAVDIVSCAESARAVG - Modius.
Rev: PONMTRPIMPPPCOSII - Large S C.