Couldn't help but sharing my new Roman Sestertius. Probably struck in 22AD or maybe early 23. It features the twin grandsons of the Emporer Tiberius. It was probably struck with great happiness but it would soon turn bad as in 23AD one of the twins died along with their father Drusus (poisoned by his wife)? Their mother Livilla died of starvation (maybe locked in a room by her mother as punishment for killing her husband)? and finally the other twin was bumped off by a emporer called Caligula. Nice.
Wonderful story coin. And my understanding is that Sejanus helped her poison Drusus and then he married her. Please correct me if my mind is mixing Roman stories. Could we see the other side of that wonderful Sestertius?
..i thought Drusus was starved to death in prison...eating the stuffing from his matress...but i too could be mixing ^^...and yeah that is a nice'un!..like Sal said, wut's on de otter side?......& welcome @Lee Gilmore ...(you any kin to David?..)
I just magnified the image. I'd like to see the other side and the edge before posting further. The new image is too blurred out. What kind of holder is the coin in? I cannot wait to see other examples. The side with the twins is truly amazing.
Sorry hopefully this is a better photo. It's in a small plastic viewing capsule which came from the very well known auction house that I bought it from. (Think Eids of March £3.24m).
If you click on "full image" after uploading your photos, they will appear full-sized in the post instead of as thumbnail attachments. Great coin!
Here's the pic and description from the aformentioned auction house Drusus Julius Caesar (son of Tiberius) Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 22-23. Confronted heads of Drusus' twin sons Tiberius Gemellus and Germanicus on crossed cornucopiae with winged caduceus between / DRVSVS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N PONT TR POT II around large S•C. RIC I 42 (Tiberius); C. 1 (Drusus); BMCRE 95 (Tiberius). 24.61g, 35mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine; some details lightly reinforced, fields slightly smoothed. Acquired at NYINC, January 2020, and from the inventory of a European dealer. This sestertius was struck in the wake of the death of Tiberius' heir designate, Germanicus. With no heir apparent, Tiberius nonetheless promoted the concept of a 'Tiberian' dynasty on his coinage of AD 22/3, as clearly embodied in the present type, through his son Drusus and twin grandsons Tiberius Gemellus and Germanicus Gemellus, whose portraits adorn the cornucopiae here. Tragically however, Drusus and Germanicus Gemellus were both to die in AD 23, and Tiberius Gemellus would eventually be executed by Caligula as a potential threat to his position
You must have had some major competition. Out of curiosity, how did the auction describe it? Thanks. Someone posted it.
Mag-Smegging-Nificent. Still wish I could remember who it is here who posts the clip of Orson Welles applauding. Have to like the auction house's candor about the judicious touch-ups. Just starting from the lettering, this is as quintessentially 1st century as I care to imagine. ...Yeah, to one of your initial points, it's an especially poignant contrast between the motif and how stuff played out.
Hate to think it but this kind of thing probably happens in today's times as well. The royals and statesmen/women can hide it better, but detectives are better as well. So very sad...
