Description
Antonia Minor, as Augusta of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty and mother of Claudius, Silver Denarius (3.81g, 18.50mm), Lugdunum mint, struck under Claudius 41-42 AD. Obverse: Draped bust of Antonia Minor facing to the right, laureate with grain ears, legend surrounds, “ANTONIA AVGVSTA”. Reverse: Full figure of Antonia Minor facing forward, head slightly turned to the right, draped and holding long torch in right hand and cornucopia in left arm, legend surrounds, “CONSTANTIAE [A]VGVSTI”. RIC-66; RSC-2. An exceptionally scarce piece very infrequently available for commerce, struck in quite nice style and handsomely toned, a few hairlines to obverse, typically seen and similar to previously sold examples, a bold and desirable piece of early Roman Imperial numismatics, Very Fine, reverse good Very Fine.
The Obverse Latin legend reads “Antōnia Augusta”, naming the Augusta with the feminine form of the Roman Gens Antonius as well as her title as Augusta. The Reverse Latin legend reads “cōnstantiae Augusta”, with an English translation of “The steadfastness/constancy of the Augusta”.