Lot 2168
Claudius. Silver Denarius (3.76 g), AD 41-54. Rome, AD 46/7. TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P VI IMP XI, laureate head of Claudius right. Reverse: PACI AVGVSTAE, Nemesis advancing right, pulling fold of her robe below neck, holding winged caduceus downwards with which she points at serpent before her. RIC 39; BN 51; BMC 40-1; RSC 58. Nicely toned and quite pleasing. NGC grade Ch VF; Strike: 4/5, Surface: 4/5. Estimate Value $4,000 - 5,000
The goddess Nemesis represented divine retribution and just fortune, and according to the poet Mesomedes was the daughter of Justitia. She was often invoked before a military campaign where it was customary to offer a sword in her honor. Her appearance on imperial coins is uncommon, mainly occurring under Claudius and Hadrian. She is normally but not always depicted winged, as here, and often pulls a fold of drapery from her neck so that she can spit into her bosom (Meleager Anthologia Graeca XII.229 [Straton of Sardis]).
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