Lot 3183

Description

Egypt, Alexandria, Claudius and Messalina, (A.D. 41-54), silver tetradrachm, (12.29 grams), issued year 3 = 42-43, Obv. TI K**L*AY**DI KAIS SEBA GE*PMANIAYTOK, head of Claudius to right, laureate, in front L **G*, Rev. Messalina as Demeter to left arm resting on column, veiled and clad in chiton and peplos, hold two small figures (her children, Britannicus and Octavia) and ears of corn, around ME**SSALI NA KAIS SEBAS*, (S.1869 [Sear Roman Coins], RPC 5131, Koln 75 (p.36), Datt. 123, BMC 71-72 (p.10), Curtis 13 variety, Milne 84-85). Extremely fine, grey tone and very rare in this condition.

Messalina (Valeria Messalina), d. A.D. 48, was a Roman empress and the wife of Claudius I. She was the mother of his children, Britannicus and Octavia. Her reputation for greed and lust was supposedly unknown to her husband until, in Claudius' absence, she publicly married her lover Caius Silius. Claudius' secretary Narcissus informed the emperor and Claudius then had Messalina executed. The coin described above features in Robert Graves novel "Claudius the God" and speaks of revolts in Alexandria and its issue was intended to humiliate Claudius.