Nomos 15

Agrippa, died AD 12. As (Copper, 27 mm, 12.64 g, 6 h), Rome, struck under Caligula, 37-41. M AGRIPPA L F COS III Head of Agrippa to left, wearing rostral crown. Rev. S C Neptune standing left, holding small dolphin and trident. BMC (Tiberius) 161-168. Cohen 3. BN 77-97. RIC I 58 (Gaius). With a remarkably powerful and unusually 'Julio-Claudian' looking head of Agrippa, sharply struck and with a fine, dark green-brown patina. As such, a very rare variant. Old scratch on Agrippa's cheek under the patina, otherwise, about extremely fine.

From the Molard Collection, Switzerland.

This coin is a particularly interesting and unusual specimen of an otherwise well-known and extensive issue. The usual portrait of Agrippa, Octavian/Augustus' great friend and companion in arms, shows him as a fairly rough, solid and craggy individual. This piece, however, provides us with a rather elongated, rather Julio-Claudian looking head. This must have been done deliberately, perhaps as a way of emphasizing the unity of the ruling family. The fact that this form of representation is so uncommon must mean that it was ultimately not approved.