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giving three emperors to Rome-whereas not one of the family of Augustus obtained the sovereign power, for the attaining of which he had impiously trodden under foot the sacred laws of his country, and by a thousand acts of cruelty and injustice, laid waste the Roman world.

The medals of Antonia are of gold, silver, and middle-brass, with some Greek, Colonial, and Egyptian ones. Those of middle-brass are common, and substitute the large size-but those of the other metals are considerably rare, and have only two known reverses-Constantiæ* and Sacerdos-the first of which is supposed to allude to the firmness with which she declined matrimonial overtures after she had become one of the honoured order of Univiri.

XXVIII.

Obverse. ANTONIA AVGVSTA. A fine head of Antonia, with her hair twisted to the back of the neck, and a countenance expressive of sense and mildness. The title of Augusta was conferred by Caligula, when he ascended the throne-albeit he so soon afterwards maltreated her, and, like a graceless grandson, refused to bestow posthumous honour, or permit medals to be struck to perpetuate her memory. This is a darkly-patinated and singularly fine medal, of a size, thickness, and relief much nearer large than middle-brass. I procured it from the Chev. Landolina, at Syracuse, in 1814.

Reverse. TI. CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG. P. M. TR. P. IMP. (Tiberius Claudius Cæsar, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunitia potestate, Imperator.) In the field S. C. A veiled priestess holding a simpulum in her right hand, and a sacrificial vase, in her left. This medal was struck by Claudius, about A. D. 41-and Havercamp and others have therefore advanced that the figure represents the Emperor himself. But the specimens consulted by those antiquaries could not have been in good condition: on the one under consideration, the bust and person are too exactly delineated to mistake it for any other than Antonia, habited as a vestal virgin—or, perhaps, as one of the priestesses of Augustus, of whom Livia was the chief.

GERMANICUS.

Germanicus, the "worthiest son of the worthiest parents," was born of Drusus Senior and Antonia, B. C. 15. He inherited this splendid name from his father, on whom it had been conferred in perpetuity, by a decree of the senate. He was adopted by Tiberius, at the express command of Augustus, and decorated with the title of Cæsar, B. C. 4. He took the quæstorship A. D. 7; obtained triumphal honours for his successes over the Marsi, Catti, and other northern nations, A. D. 11; and became consul in the following year. A second, and still more magnificent triumph was awarded for his German victories, A. D. 17; on which occasion the people were delighted by seeing the victor's chariot filled with his sons and daughters. After a brilliant but brief career, he died A. D. 19, in the 34th year of his age. His death seems to have been partly hastened by vexation; but it was mainly imputed to the

*Except this, and one of Claudius, I know no other medals representing Constantia. She is typified by a galeated female, with a torch and a cornucopiæ ; and also by a sedent woman, who elevates her right hand, but has neither sceptre, branch, nor patera.

effects of poison, said to have been administered by Piso, at the instance of Tiberius and Livia,—the only two persons, says Dio, in the whole Roman empire, who were not affected with so great, so general a loss.*

Germanicus was a prince equally famed for rare accomplishments, political talent, and military prowess; and Ovid, in dedicating his Fasti to him, bears testimony to his learning. In the spirited suppression of a military insurrection, in the obsequies paid to the remains of Varus and his legions, and in the modesty of his trophy on the defeat of Arminius, the action and bias of a powerful mind were displayed but that our admiration might be unalloyed, it is to be wished the exhortation to "give no quarter" had never found utterance from a chief so generally lauded for benevolence and clemency ;—yet the harsh mandate is almost counterbalanced in the magnanimity of despatching succour to rescue his arch-enemy, Cneius Piso, from destruction. His affable address, and graceful person, secured his succession to Drusus in the public affections, insomuch that he was denominated the "delight of the Roman people;" and he discharged all the various duties of an able officer, and an upright citizen, to their satisfaction and applause. Tiberius, however, beheld this popularity with a malignant eye, and to withdraw the gallant leader from his devoted legions in Germany, he nominated him to the command of the Eastern provinces: the public pretence painted this appointment as a high honour, but the motive suspected was, that the emperor might the more easily compass the ruin of his rival,—albeit that rival had proved himself above the temptation to empire, by firmly resisting the army which urged it upon him.

Amidst the distractions of a busy public life, Germanicus still devoted a portion of his time to study-and two Greek comedies, a translation of Aratus, and some epigrams, flowed from his pen. The same classic taste led him to seize the earliest moment, afforded by his new appointment, of visiting the antiquities of Greece and Egypt.

The virtues and extraordinary qualifications of Germanicus were so highly appreciated, that when his death was announced, it is incredible what lamentation and woe it occasioned. The ashes of the deceased were solemnly borne to Rome by Agrippina : and all orders-consuls, senators, knights, plebeians, women, and children-went forth in mournful array to meet the sacred urn: and we are told that though the exterior forms of grief were observed, the anguish of their hearts surpassed all outward shew. In order to eternize the memory of a prince so beloved, "friendship put itself to the stretch, and men of talents exhausted their invention." Triumphal arches were built, and statues erected; and, among other honours, it was decreed that the name of Germanicus should be inserted in the Salian Hymn, an honour peculiar to the gods; that a curule chair, with an oak-leaf crown should be placed in the college of Augustan priests; that his

The imputation of poison always attended the sudden and the unwelcome deaths of great men among the Ancients. I bave reported the above from authority, "as in duty bound;" but must acknowledge, that I cannot understand the principle upon which slow poisons were administered, and rendered effective.

figure in ivory should be carried before the procession in the Circensian games; and that no candidate, save one of the Julian family, should be appointed flamen, or augur, in the vacancy made by his demise. The regret was universal, and, in fine, to use the words of Tacitus-" the provinces lamented their loss; he was honoured by kings, and regretted by the neighbouring nations; such was his equal behaviour to the allies of Rome, and such the humanity that endeared him even to the enemy."

The medals of Germanicus, with the exception of those of middle and third brass are rare, and were mostly struck by his son Caligula. The large-brass is exceedingly scarce and of the very few known, is the one which follows. Colonial and Greek coins of this prince, though of some degree of rarity, it is not difficult to procure.

XXIX.

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Obverse. GERMANICVS CAES. TI. AVG. F. DIVI AVG. N. (Germanicus Cæsar, Tiberii Augusti filius, Divi Augusti Nepos.) The naked head of Germanicus regarding the left, with short hair, smooth chin, bare neck, sedate aspect, and a countenance expressive of one, who certainly excelled the rest of mankind in all the accomplishments of mind, and perfections of body." This medal, in good preservation and coated with black patina, was obtained from the cabinet of Mr. Willett, in 1834; and is of such extreme rarity, that no other is known in England. Reverse. TI. CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG. GERM. P. M. TR. P. IMP. P. P. (Tiberius Claudius Cæsar, Augustus, Germanicus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunitia potestate, Imperator, Pater Patria.) In the field an uncial S. C. (Senatus Consultu.) This valuable medal ought decidedly. to have been purchased by the British Museum, and, in such cases, few collectors would compete with the liberal officers of that national establishment: but the trustees exert a grievous parsimony in some of their measures, and of course, at a public sale, objects of taste will not be thrown away. See No. CCCLXXXVII. XXX.

Obverse. GERMANICVS CAESAR in clear characters across the upper verge. The victorious prince is here seen with a sceptre surmounted by an eagle" sceptroque insignis eburno"-a symbol of command borrowed from the Etruscans: he is in a highly ornamented triumphal quadriga. This significant medal was struck A. D. 17, the date of the triumph-and though only of secondbrass, is well-spread and of the best workmanship. It is in very high preservation, and was presented to me by M. Gropius, at Athens, in 1820.

Reverse. SIGNIS RECEPT. DEVICTIS GERM. (Signis Receptis, Devictis Germanis.) A military and majestic whole-length figure of Germanicus, with his right hand elevated, and his left bearing a legionary eagle; the inscription is on each side of the figure, across the field, and under it a large S. C. This alludes to the finding of two of the three eagles which had been lost, together with three legions and six cohorts, by the imbecile Varus; a recovery which caused the greatest joy to Rome. One of these eagles was re-captured by Stertinius; of the other it is related that Malovandus, a Marsian chief, had given Germanicus intelligence of its being buried in a trench, within a wood, and the place well guarded. On this, two parties were sent to regain it-one attacked the enemy in front, while the other entered in the rear, and bore off the eagle. Florus tells us that the third was thrown into a deep morass, by the Roman who bore it.

This medal has been servilely copied, in the INSPRUCK, 1805, of the Napoleon series, but a comparison of the two will shew the inferior drawing of the modern one, especially with regard to the dignity of the bust.

AGRIPPINA SENIOR.

Agrippina, a lady not more illustrious for her rank than her virtues, was the daughter of Marcus Agrippa, by Julia the daughter of Augustus. She was born B. C. 15,

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and became the wife of Germanicus, by whom she had nine children. The affectionate regard, and intrepid daring, with which she bore the ashes of her husband into Rome, were not overlooked by her enemies, and she was, in the event, banished to Pandataria, A. D. 30, where, after suffering the most odious brutality from the malice of Tiberius, she expired in misery, three years afterwards. The fell tyrant could not brook her popularity with the Roman people, by whom she was applauded, as the only blood of Augustus, and the last remaining model of ancient manners. "Her death,"

it is Tacitus who speaks, " was said to be voluntary; but if it be true that all nourishment was withheld from her, it is evident that an artful tale was fabricated, to give the appearance of suicide to a cruel and barbarous murder."

Agrippina was a woman of exalted spirit,* and noble character; and her chast e and faithful adherence to her husband, and his memory, have been greatly admired. In the conscious rectitude of virtue, and the independence of illustrious birth, she scorned crouching under that servile submission to the arrogant Livia, which was expected. Sejanus, finding her virtue impregnable, contrived by emissaries to get her pride exasperated, and to prompt her to those indiscretions of a spirited temper, against which the dying husband had solemnly warned her; and which accelerated the ruin both of herself and of her sons. The tidings of her dissolution were announced by Tiberius himself to the senate; and the despot accepted the thanks of this body, for the "tender indulgence" of not having ordered her to be strangled, and thrown into the common charnel-house. Her remains were conveyed in great pomp from Pandataria, by Caligula, and deposited in the mausoleum of Augustus, with every honour which could be paid.

The gold and silver medals of Agrippina are of a high degree of rarity, especially that having a reverse of Germanicus; nor are there any Latin brass but those of the large size, which it is tolerably easy to procure, except when restored by Titus. The colonial coins of this princess are exceedingly rare, and when in good condition, bring high prices.

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XXXI.

Obrerse. AGRIPPINA M. F. GERMANICI CAESARIS. (Agrippina, Marci filia, Germaniciscilicet uxor Cæsaris.) A well-drawn portrait of the princess, with her hair plaited and tied behind, and with features speaking the firmness of the "famina ingens animi." This medal is in fine preservation, and covered with a dark-brown patina; it was procured at Girgenti, in 1815. Reverse. TI. CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG. GERM. P. M. TR. P. IMP. P. P. (Tiberius Claudius Cæsar Augustus Germanicus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunitia potestate, Imperator, Pater Patria.) From the uncial S. C. which occupies the centre of the field, it is seen that this medal, struck by Claudius in honour of his unfortunate sister-in-law, was ratified by the senate.

XXXII.

Obverse. AGRIPPINA M. F. MAT. C. CAESARIS AVGVSTI. (Agrippina Marci filia, Mater Caii Cæsaris Augusti.) A fine portrait, highly expressive of one who was so impatient of

* This spirit was perhaps "un peu fort," for she rated Tiberius pretty soundly; and Tacitus, with all due regard to her virtues, says" atque ipsa Agrippina paullo commotior, nisi quod castitate, et mariti amore, quamvis indomitum animum in bonum verterat."

adversity. The hair is delicately executed to the above fashion, but with the addition of a ringlet down the neck, and a string of pearls to the clubbed part. Havercamp, Pedrusi, and others, pronounce this medal to have been struck by Caligula, to his mother's memory; but it was more probably by Claudius, for it has been objected that the former was too indignant at the mean extraction of his really noble grandfather, to have permitted the M. F. to appear on the legend. Reverse. S. P. Q. R. MEMORIAE AGRIPPINAE. (Senatus Populus Que Romanus, Memoriæ Agrippinæ.) This is placed across the upper verge, as an inscription, and under it is a superb and sacred carpentum drawn by two mules. In coins of consecration, the word "Memoria" means piety, rather than memory as a faculty: and thus a woman who, in life, had been barbarously imprisoned, scourged, had an eye knocked out, and narrowly escaped being drawn about the streets by a hook through the mouth, and cast into the Gemonia, was annually honoured after death, with sacrifices and processions. The omission of the S. C. is from the S. P. Q. R. being equally the stamp of senatorial authority. The coin is a singularly fine one, of light yellow brass, and was procured at Patras, in 1820.

NERO AND DRUSUS.

Nero and Drusus were the two eldest sons of Germanicus, by Agrippina Senior. They were both recommended to the Senate, by Tiberius, upon the death of his son; by the same recommendation they were both advanced to public employments before the competent age, and they were afterwards both ruined by the artifices of Sejanus.

Nero was born about A. D. 7, was made quæstor in his thirteenth year, and admitted into the college of pontiffs. Tiberius distributed a public largess on the occasion of his assuming the toga virilis, and then gave him Julia, his grand-daughter, in marriage. But owing to his wife becoming informer to her worthless mother, he fell by the base machinations of the minister, and was disgraced A. D. 26, being condemned, and banished to Pontia, where he shortly afterwards died of hunger.*

Drusus was born A. D. 8, and having taken the "manly robe" at the age of fifteen had the same honours decreed to him by the Senate, which had been conferred on his elder brother, three years before. He married Æmilia, the daughter of M. Æ. Lepidus, a man of consular dignity, and in A. D. 25, was advanced to the station of præfect of Rome; in the following year he was artfully drawn in by Sejanus to combine in the destruction of his elder brother; and was afterwards, in A. D. 29, accused before the Senate, and declared an enemy to the state, in a common sentence with his mother and brother. Drusus was kept in close confinement in a dungeon under the house of Tiberius, where he was condemned A. D. 33, by the merciless emperor, to be starved to death; but he protracted his miserable existence for nine days, by devouring the materials of his bed. Tiberius reported the dying imprecations of his victim to the Conscript Fathers: "with horror and astonishment," says Tacitus, "they beheld a tyrant, who, with close hypocrisy, had hitherto concealed his crimes, but was now so hardened, that, without shame or remorse, he could throw open prison-walls, and • Suetonius says there was a rumour that he slew himself, on seeing the executioner approach with the implements of death.

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