Dea Moneta
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Banner Astarte 24
Lot # 360
Tiberius, 14-37. Tessera. Rome. Circa AD 14 (Lead, 19.71 mm, 2.32 g). Tiberius Caesar and Livia seated on a throne left; Tiberius, on the right, holds scepter; in the exergue and in the right field: TI CAE - SA; Livia, on the left, holds a scepter and a branch (?); in the left field: IVLI - A AVG. Rev. PACIS / AVGVS, The Ara Pacis Augustae: altar-enclosure with ornamented top and central door. Ficoroni -. Rostovtsev -. Overbeck -. Turcan, Nigra Moneta -. Arzone & Marinello, Lead Tokens of Museo di Castelvecchio -. Baratta, Instrumenta Inscripta VIII -. Dark Tiber patina. Full Very Fine. Unpublished and possibly Unique. The Ara Pacis was commissioned by the Roman Senate in 13 BC to honor Augustus' return to Rome after three years in Hispania and Gaul, and was consecrated in 9 BC. Years later, in AD 4, Tiberius was adopted by Augustus, and his name was changed from Tiberius Claudius Nero to Tiberius Iulius Caesar. The identity of the Julia depicted at his side can only be that of his mother, Livia Drusilla, who had been Augustus’ wife since 38 BC. At that time, Tiberius — born from Livia’s previous marriage — was only two years old. It should be noted that Livia assumed the name Julia only after Augustus' death in AD 14, when she was granted the title of Augusta by his will; during Augustus' lifetime, she continued to be known simply as Livia. Moreover, Tiberius' marriage to Julia Major, Augustus’ daughter, had ended in divorce six years before his adoption as Caesar. We are therefore inclined to associate the issuance of this tessera with the festivities celebrating the beginning of Tiberius' principate, which took place on September 17, AD 14, amid grand celebrations.