Rare Roman and Viking finds sold by Noonans
On 18 July 2023, Noonans held an auction of “British Iron Age Coins, Ancient Coins And Antiquities”. It included several recent detecting finds, including a “unique” Viking die and a Roman gold aureus, both of which sold for figures in line with expectations.
To view any of my selected lots in the auction catalogue click on the lot number. The full catalogue can be found here.
There is a buyer’s premium of 24% (plus VAT) on the hammer price.
Featured lot
Gold Aureus of Claudius
This aureus is part of a series of coins issued by Claudius to celebrate his father’s military triumphs. It was found in December 2022 and recorded at the PAS as FASAM-EE7A78 where it was considered a Find of Note.
The reverse shows DE GERMANIS on architrave of triumphal arch surmounted by equestrian statue left between two trophies. The obverse has the bust of Nero Claudius Drusus and the legend NERO CLAVDIVS DRVSVS GERMANICVS IMP. It recognises his military success in Germania and was issued some 50 years after his death.
Nero Claudius Drusus
Three months before he was born, Drusus’s mother divorced her current husband and married the Emperor Augustus who brought him up as his own son. He was granted public offices at an early age and Augustus arranged an advantageous marriage. In his lifetime he was one of the most celebrated military commanders, rapidly gaining a string of victories and conquests in Germania.
On 1 August 10 BC he dedicated the great Altar of Lugdunum to Augustus. The same day saw the birth of his youngest son Claudius, who struck this aureus in posthumous remembrance. The following March, at the age of 29, he died after falling of a horse.
The Norfolk Viking Urnes Die
We’ve featured this important Viking die when it was recorded at the PAS in PAS Finds (w/e 03/03/23) – 11th century die stamp and when it was announced that it was to be auctioned in Noonans to sell “Nationally Important” Viking die.
