Obolos 9

Germanicus, died 19. As (Copper, 29 mm, 9.90 g, 7 h), struck under Claudius, Rome, 42-43. GERMANICVS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N Bare head of Germanicus to right. Rev. TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR P IMP P P around large S C. BMC 218. Cohen 9. RIC 106. Pleasant deep green patina. Minor roughness, otherwise, good very fine.

From the collection of W. F. Stoecklin, Amriswil, Switzerland, acquired prior to 1975.

Germanicus was the son of Nero Claudius Drusus, the brother of Tiberius (after his father died Tiberius adopted him); Germanicus's brother was the future emperor Claudius, and his wife was Agrippina the Elder. Germanicus and Agrippina had three sons: two died, effectively murdered by Tiberius, but the third, Caligula, became emperor on the death of Tiberius. When Caligula was assassinated, Claudius, Germanicus's younger brother, was elevated to throne; after his accession Claudius actually married his niece, Agrippina the Younger, who then continued the family tradition by arranging Claudius's poisoning in order to assure the elevation of her own son Nero to the throne. Nero then paid her back by having her killed.