PREVIEW: IRON AGE COINS, ANCIENT COINS & ANTIQUITIES 18 JULY

The importance of East Anglia to Roman historians is reinforced again in this sale by two of its detectorist finds: an aureus of the Emperor Claudius (10 BC-54 AD, and another of his father, Nero Claudius Drusus (38-9 BC), stepson of the Emperor Augustus and grandfather of Caligula.

Among his many posts and honours, Drusus became governor of Gaul in 15 BC, commanding the Roman forces in the Germanic campaigns of the next few years until his death in 9 BC, the result of infection after being injured falling from his horse.

Based in Lugdunum in modern-day Lyon, where his son Claudius was born, Drusus’s successes were celebrated in Rome where he was heaped with further honours. Such was his standing that The Senate put up an arch in his memory on the Appian Way, while the legionaries erected a monument to him in Mogontiacum (modern-day Mainz).

On his accession in 41 AD, Claudius revived the memory of his father with new honours, including annual games in the Circus Maximus on 14 January, Drusus’ birthday. He also had coins struck with Drusus’ likeness and, on the reverse, the commemorative arch.

It is one of these that was found along the Pye Road outside of Diss, South Norfolk in January 2023, an unexpected British find spot for such a coin.

In generally very fine condition, this very rare survival has an estimate of £4,000-5,000.

Accompanying it in the sale is the gold aureus of Claudius uncovered by a detectorist near Colchester in Essex around the year 2000 and registered with the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

Depicting the Emperor facing right and clad in an oak wreath, the reverse shows Concordia seated left on a curule chair. The estimate is £5,000-6,000.