Lot 2062

Description

Claudius, (A.D. 41-54), AE sestertius, Rome mint, issued A.D. 50-54, (21.9 grams), obv. laureate head of Claudius to right, around [TI CLAVDIVS] CAESAR A[VG PM TR P IMP P P], rev. SPES [AVGVSTA] around, Spes draped advancing to left, right hand holding flower, left raising skirt, countermarked in incuse rectangular block NCAPR, (S.635, RIC 115, C.85, BMC 192). Nearly fine and scarce.

The countermark of NCAPR (Nero Caesar Augustus Probavit), occurs on sestertii of emperors from Tiberius to Claudius and is the commonest of all Roman countermarks. The purpose was to review the coinage in circulation and mark such coins as passing the test. Mattingly believes this was done during the early years of the reign of Nero, when the senatorial mint was idle.