Lot 75 – Claude (41-54) – Sesterce – Rome (42-43).

Claude (41-54) Sesterce – Rome (42-43). Rare et magnifique exemplaire. Exemplaire de la vente Helbing 83 du 19 août 1941, N°653 et de la vente Münzen & Medaillen 38 du 5 juin 2013, N°250 et de la vente Palombo 18 du 17 novembre 2019, N° 61. 30.87g – C. 38 – RIC 112 – Von Kaenel 1761 (Cet exemplaire) Superbe – NGC CHOICE XF* (5/5 et 4/5) The bust on this coin is especially fine, which is rare for Claudius, and its reverse shows a wreath of oak-leaves around the legend OB CIVIS SERVATOS. This type refers to an award for saving the life of a fellow Roman, that had been bestowed upon Octavian-Augustus by the Roman senate (after he obtained in 20 BC from Phraates IV, the liberation of thousands of Roman citizens that had been made prisoners in Parthia). It was a great success for him, notably because he also obtained the standards which Crassus had lost in the battle of Carrhae – standards, which figure on the ‘Augustus of Prima Porta’ statue and which were stored in the Temple of Mars Ultor. This title was undoubtedly precious to Augustus’s eyes, as he chose the legend CAESAR COS VII CIVIBVS SERVATEIS – AVGVSTVS for what seems to be his first emission in gold (ref. Calicó 173). In the words of Cassius Dio, « Octavian had even before received many honours when the questions of declining the sovereignty and of allotting the provinces were being discussed. At that time, the privilege of placing the laurel trees in front of the royal residence, and of hanging the wreath of oak leaves [corona civica] above them, was voted in his honour to recognize in perpetuity his status as victor over his enemies and the savior of the citizens. » Recipients of the corona civica were entitled to various honours, one of which was having spectators rise as they entered a public theatre. The laurel branches were a sign of martial victory, that invoked his victory over Mark Antony and Cleopatra at Actium. The celebrated Austrian scholar J. H. von Eckhel commented: « This reverse, which makes its first appearance under Augustus, was frequently revived by succeeding Caesars, not often careful about whether such praise could truly be bestowed upon them » (Doctrina numorum veterum, new ed. 1828 vol. VI p. 121). And Stevenson added: « For example, words EX S. C. OB CIVES SERVATOS inscribed with a laurel crown forms the legend of the reverse on a first brass coin of Claudius, as if that most indolent and apathetic, if not most stupid, of Emperors ever did an heroic or humane action to merit the eulogy conveyed in this senatus consultum » (S. W. Stevenson, C. Roach Smith and F. W. Madden, A Dictionary of Roman Coins. Republican and Imperial, London 1889, p. 582). Claudius’ choice to use this type is noteworthy, considering that he had declined many of the honours traditionally bestowed on emperors.