

Agrippina Jr. 15mm Fine/VG bronze of
Acmoneia, Phrygia
Diademed bust right
Artemis advancing r. drawing bow before small figure of Nike
Sear-531(GIC) ex. Mediterranean Coins
Agrippina came with amazing family connections. One
grandmother was Augustus' sister and the other grandmother was Augustus'
daughter. If you ever need a superb example of the dangers of inbreeding
look no further. Even the blood of Agrippa (maternal grandfather) doesn't
seem to have helped - she was the sister of Caligula and spawned Nero.


Claudius and Agrippina Jr. 19mm VF/aVF
bronze of Ephesus, Ionia
Jugate heads of Claudius and Agrippina
Stag standing right
RPC 2624 BMC 205 ex. Bill
Puetz
In 48 AD Claudius' wife Messalina tried to depose him by marrying the consul
while he was out of town. Claudius' friends took care of the situation and
in an excellent example of self-critique Claudius asked the Praetorian Guard to
kill him if he ever contemplated marrying again. It's a pity they didn't
comply. In an effort to secure his position he wound up marrying his
niece, Aggripina. One dish of poisoned mushrooms later her son by a
previous marriage was Emperor.