Lot 4372

Description

Antonia, daughter of Mark Antony and Octavia, (grandmother of Caligula, mother of Claudius), (died A.D. 37), AE dupondius, issued after her death by Claudius 41-42, Rome mint, (12.09 g), obv. draped bust to right of Antonia, around traces of ANTONIA AVGVSTA, rev. Claudius, standing to left, holding simpulum, around traces of TI CLA[VDIVS CAE]SAR AVG P M TR P IMP, S C across field, (S.1902, BMC 166, RIC 92). Fine, slightly rough in the field, rare.

Ex RJM Collection together with dealer ticket, c.1994.

Antonia Major also known as Julia Antonia Major was born August/September 39 B.C., she was also known as Antonia the Elder and was a daughter of Triumvir Mark Antony and Octavia the Younger and a relative of the first Roman emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. She was a niece of the first emperor Augustus, step cousin of the emperor Tiberius, paternal great-aunt of the emperor Caligula, maternal aunt and great-aunt-in law of the emperor Claudius, and paternal grandmother and maternal great-great aunt of the emperor Nero. She was born in Athens, Greece and after 36 B.C. her mother, along with her siblings and herself were brought to Rome. She was raised by her mother, her uncle and her aunt Livia Drusilla. According to Cassius Dio after her father died, Augustus allowed her and her younger sister Antonia Minor to benefit from their father's estate in Rome. Although little is known of her, Antonia was held in high regard like her sister Antonia Minor, the mother of the emperor Claudius, who was celebrated for her beauty and virtue.