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An Illegal coin and exciting mystery - Lydia, Sardes for Diva Claudia Octavia
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<p>[QUOTE="limmle, post: 5374452, member: 113081"]Thanks for this write up <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/members/finn235.98035/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/members/finn235.98035/">Finn235</a> Here's an article about ancient images of Nero's women by Susan Wood of Oakland University: <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263851331_The_Incredible_Vanishing_Wives_of_Nero" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263851331_The_Incredible_Vanishing_Wives_of_Nero" rel="nofollow">https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263851331_The_Incredible_Vanishing_Wives_of_Nero</a></p><p><br /></p><p>It mentions the Sardes coin, proposing that the "mint magistrates of Sardis were both premature and over-optimistic" in their application of a divine title on Octavia in response to her popularity perhaps? It's also interesting to note that she was never formally awarded the title of Augusta, but coins from Perinthus refer to her as such (OKTAOYIA ΣEBAΣTH), so there is another example of a provincial coin being "out of step" with the situation in Rome. Agrippina had been the dominant woman in Nero's rule until her death in 59. She is the one who claimed the title Augusta. Octavia obviously taking a subordinate role to her. Perhaps in the 3 years between Agripinna's death and Nero's divorce from Octavia in 62, the Perinthus mint responded to Octavia's popularity by taking it upon themselves to apply the Augusta title. Could this have been the same with the magistrates at Sardes and their use of ΘΕΑΝ.</p><p><br /></p><p>For my contribution, let me post three coins depicting 4 people relevant to Octavia. First, her mother Messalina.</p><p>[ATTACH]1229530[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]1229528[/ATTACH]</p><p>Messalina (3rd wife of Claudius)</p><p>Bronze. 41-48, Aigai, Aeolis. Obverse:ΜЄCΑΛЄΙΝΑ CЄΒΑCΤΗ, draped bust right Reverse:[ΑΙΓΑЄωΝ], Zeus standing left, holding eagle and sceptre. RPC I 2430; SNG Copenhagen 23.</p><p><br /></p><p>Her brother Britannicus, and future husband, Nero.</p><p>[ATTACH]1229529[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]1229530[/ATTACH]</p><p>Britannicus (son of Claudius) and Nero as Caesars</p><p>Bronze. 50-54, Pergamum, Mysia Obverse:BPЄTANNIKOC KAICAP, bare-headed and draped bust of Britannicus right Reverse: NЄPΩN KAICAP, bare-headed and draped bust of Nero right. RPC I 2371</p><p><br /></p><p>And lastly her rival Poppaea.</p><p>[ATTACH]1229531[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]1229526[/ATTACH]</p><p>Poppaea (2nd wife of Nero)</p><p>Bronze c. 62 Laodicea ad Lycum</p><p>Obverse:ΠOΠΠAIA ΣEBAΣTH Draped bust right Reverse: IOΥΛIA ZHNΩNIΣ ΛAOΔIKEΩN (magistrate Ioulia Zenonis), Aphrodite standing right, holding sceptre and apple (dove?). SNG von Aulock 3841. RPC 2924.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="limmle, post: 5374452, member: 113081"]Thanks for this write up [URL='https://www.cointalk.com/members/finn235.98035/']Finn235[/URL] Here's an article about ancient images of Nero's women by Susan Wood of Oakland University: [URL]https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263851331_The_Incredible_Vanishing_Wives_of_Nero[/URL] It mentions the Sardes coin, proposing that the "mint magistrates of Sardis were both premature and over-optimistic" in their application of a divine title on Octavia in response to her popularity perhaps? It's also interesting to note that she was never formally awarded the title of Augusta, but coins from Perinthus refer to her as such (OKTAOYIA ΣEBAΣTH), so there is another example of a provincial coin being "out of step" with the situation in Rome. Agrippina had been the dominant woman in Nero's rule until her death in 59. She is the one who claimed the title Augusta. Octavia obviously taking a subordinate role to her. Perhaps in the 3 years between Agripinna's death and Nero's divorce from Octavia in 62, the Perinthus mint responded to Octavia's popularity by taking it upon themselves to apply the Augusta title. Could this have been the same with the magistrates at Sardes and their use of ΘΕΑΝ. For my contribution, let me post three coins depicting 4 people relevant to Octavia. First, her mother Messalina. [ATTACH]1229530[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]1229528[/ATTACH] Messalina (3rd wife of Claudius) Bronze. 41-48, Aigai, Aeolis. Obverse:ΜЄCΑΛЄΙΝΑ CЄΒΑCΤΗ, draped bust right Reverse:[ΑΙΓΑЄωΝ], Zeus standing left, holding eagle and sceptre. RPC I 2430; SNG Copenhagen 23. Her brother Britannicus, and future husband, Nero. [ATTACH]1229529[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]1229530[/ATTACH] Britannicus (son of Claudius) and Nero as Caesars Bronze. 50-54, Pergamum, Mysia Obverse:BPЄTANNIKOC KAICAP, bare-headed and draped bust of Britannicus right Reverse: NЄPΩN KAICAP, bare-headed and draped bust of Nero right. RPC I 2371 And lastly her rival Poppaea. [ATTACH]1229531[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]1229526[/ATTACH] Poppaea (2nd wife of Nero) Bronze c. 62 Laodicea ad Lycum Obverse:ΠOΠΠAIA ΣEBAΣTH Draped bust right Reverse: IOΥΛIA ZHNΩNIΣ ΛAOΔIKEΩN (magistrate Ioulia Zenonis), Aphrodite standing right, holding sceptre and apple (dove?). SNG von Aulock 3841. RPC 2924.[/QUOTE]
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An Illegal coin and exciting mystery - Lydia, Sardes for Diva Claudia Octavia
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