SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Antioch. Nero, with Agrippina Junior. AD 54-68. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 14.00 g, 12h). Dated RY 3 and year 105 of the Caesarean Era (AD 56/7). Good VF.

CNG Feature Auction 132
Lot: 624. Estimated: $ 500

Roman Provincial, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 2 750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Antioch. Nero, with Agrippina Junior. AD 54-68. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 14.00 g, 12h). Dated RY 3 and year 105 of the Caesarean Era (AD 56/7). Head of Nero right, wearing oak wreath / Head of Agrippina right, with hair tied in long braid at back, two strands of hair hanging down neck; in right field, Γ above EP (dates); • below bust. McAlee 254; RPC I 4175; Prieur 74a. Toned, minor porosity, a few light scratches. Good VF.

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Michel Prieur Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 112, 11 September 2019), lot 426; Group CEM (Classical Numismatic Group 91, 19 September 2012), lot 602 (further pedigree to Triton IV is erroneous).

When Nero, at the age of 17, became emperor after the suspicious death of Claudius, his mother, Agrippina Junior, took the reins. Because of this, she appears on numerous coins with and equal to her son, like on the present coin. As he got older, Agrippina’s overbearing nature became too much for him and Nero decided that she needed to be eliminated. According to several ancient accounts, Nero did not want to kill her directly so he concocted elaborate schemes to make her death look accidental. Each of these plans were thwarted.

First, he tried poisoning Agrippina three times but she took antidotes in advance. Next, he set up a contraption in her bedroom to drop tiles on her while she slept. However, she found out about his plan in advance and avoided it. Finally, he sent her a letter inviting her to Baiae and, when she boarded a ship to cross the bay it was rigged to collapse and drown her. Although the boat did as intended, Agrippina simply swam back to shore where she was met by a group of admirers.

Done with scheming and just wanting the deed done, Nero decided to send his own trusted assassins to finish the job. According to Cassius Dio when they came upon her, weapons in hand, she yelled pointing to her womb “Strike here, for this bore Nero” (Cassius Dio, Historia Romana LXIII.13.).

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 132 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 18-19 May 2026.

CNG Feature Auction 132 – Session Three – Lot 588-888 will be held Tuesday morning, 19 May 2026 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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