Claudius promoting Nero Claudius Drusus
E2017.529, RIC I (second edition) Claudius 114
Inscriptions
Obverse: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP PP
Reverse: NERO CLAVDIVS DRVSVS GERMAN IMP [1]
The fourth Emperor of Rome was Claudius, a man with a confusing legacy. Sources from the ancient world depict Claudius as easily manipulated and generally oblivious to the political manoeuvring of his close associates. Nevertheless, Claudius was celebrated as a God following his death in 54 AD, an honour bestowed on Augustus but not Tiberius or Caligula. This suggests to scholars that Claudius must have been more popular and effective than the sources suggest.
As discussed throughout this site, the Julio-Claudians were masters of propaganda and using their family histories to raise their own profiles. Claudius was no exception. He was fortunate to have an illustrious family heritage that included both Claudians and Julians. His father, Drusus, was the brother of the emperor Tiberius and the son of Livia, the deified matron of the Julio-Claudian family. Antonia, Claudius’ mother, was the daughter of the famous Marc Antony and Octavia, the sister of Augustus (Suet. Claud. 1). These connections gave Claudius a strong pedigree for the holding of imperial power.
The obverse of this coin features the head of Claudius, surrounded by the legend that reads TI CLAUDIUS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP PP. This legend contains Claudius' name as well as a series of titles that he held at the time when the coin was minted. These include Pontifex Maximus (PM), the highest priesthood in Rome, Tribune of the People (TRP), which gave the holder diplomatic immunity and the power to veto senate rulings, and Father of the Fatherland (PP), an honorary title awarded to all emperors following Augustus. Claudius also features AVG on his legend. This signifies Augustus, a name that became synonymous with all emperors after the emperor Augustus’ death.
The reverse of the coin depicts a triumphal arch. This feature has been recognised by scholars as the Arch of Drusus, [2] which was built to celebrate Drusus’ conquests and in Germany during 12 – 9 BC [3]. This arch was commissioned by the senate under Augustus’ leadership to commemorate Drusus, who died of injuries he sustained in falling from his horse in 9 BC (Suet, Claud. 1). Above the arch is the figure of Drusus on horseback, flanked by Gallic helmets and shields, representing the spoils of conquest. Drusus was responsible for acquiring large tracts of land between the rivers Rhine and Elbe (Suet, Claud. 1). By adding territory to the empire he gained a great deal of prestige, since expanding the empire was one of the most noble acts a general could do.
Drusus himself was a very popular figure in the early empire, who, according to Tacitus, the people believed would have restored the Republic had he taken over the Emperorship (Tac. Annals. 1.33). This good will extended to his son Germanicus and Claudius, in minting this coin, is trying to capture some of that good will for himself. Claudius himself was not a great military leader. He did add territory to the empire with his successful expedition to Britain, despite its somewhat confusing legacy. He was able to secure the subjugation of eleven British tribes, but he did so without fighting any of them (Suet. Claud. 17). This had consequences for Claudius’ personal glory. On one hand the Empire was expanded but on the other Claudius failed to add any large-scale military victories to his name or gain any serious prestige in the way his father did. Suetonius discusses Claudius’ triumph for his British victory in a condescending manner: “Without a drop of blood being shed, part of the island surrendered within a few days and, in the sixth month after setting out, he returned to Rome and held a triumph of the greatest splendour” (Suet. Claud. 17).
Claudius erected a triumphal arch in Rome for his conquests. This coin dates to the period around the dedication of Claudius’ arch and is likely an attempt by Claudius to draw similarities between himself and his conquests and those of Drusus. Claudius would have wanted to emphasise his filial relationship with Drusus in an effort to hold on to some of his fathers popularity. It is also important to note that respecting and honouring one’s father was an important element of Roman society and by minting this coin Claudius is also showing himself to be a morally upstanding Roman; another important quality for an emperor to show. In these ways Claudius is linking himself to his father Drusus through the minting of this coin.
[1] Online Coins of the Roman Empire - RIC I (second edition) Claudius 114
[2] A.A. Barrett, Claudius’ British Victory Arch in Rome, Britannica Volume 22 (1991) 1-19
[3] Encyclopedia Britannica - Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus