Drusus the Elder
Royal
Lived from 38 BCE to 9 BCE
Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus also called Drusus the Elder, was a Roman politician and military commander. He was a patrician Claudian on his birth father's side but his maternal grandmother was from a plebeian family. He was the son of Livia Drusilla and the legal stepson of her second husband, the Emperor Augustus. He was also brother of the Emperor Tiberius, father to both the Emperor Claudius and general Germanicus, paternal grandfather of the Emperor Caligula, and maternal great-grandfather of the Emperor Nero.
Subject ID: 123546
MoreLived from 38 BCE to 9 BCE
Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus also called Drusus the Elder, was a Roman politician and military commander. He was a patrician Claudian on his birth father's side but his maternal grandmother was from a plebeian family. He was the son of Livia Drusilla and the legal stepson of her second husband, the Emperor Augustus. He was also brother of the Emperor Tiberius, father to both the Emperor Claudius and general Germanicus, paternal grandfather of the Emperor Caligula, and maternal great-grandfather of the Emperor Nero.
He launched the first major Roman campaigns across the Rhine and began the conquest of Germania, becoming the first Roman general to reach the Weser and Elbe rivers. In 12 BCE, Drusus led a successful campaign into Germania, subjugating the Sicambri. Later that year he led a naval expedition against Germanic tribes along the North Sea coast, conquering the Batavi and the Frisii, and defeating the Chauci near the mouth of the Weser. In 11 BC, he conquered the Usipetes and the Marsi, extending Roman control to the Upper Weser. In 10 BC, he launched a campaign against the Chatti and the resurgent Sicambri, subjugating both. The following year, while serving as consul, he conquered the Mattiaci and defeated the Marcomanni and the Cherusci, the latter near the Elbe. However, Drusus died later that year, depriving Rome of one of its best generals.
Subject ID: 123546
Subject ID: 123546
Curators
Master Variant
Master Subvariant
Coins
<p><strong>Roman Imperial, Drusus Caesar (19 - 23 CE) Bronze Dupondius, Rome mint.</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Obverse</strong> PIETAS / diademed and draped bust of Livia as Pietas right</li>
<li><strong>Reverse:</strong> DRVSVS CAESAR TI AVGVSTI F TR POT ITER / Legend around large S C</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Reference:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>RIC I 43</li>
<li>BMC 98</li>
<li>Cohen 1</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Other Information:</strong></p>
<p>The obverse portrait on this coin is generally attributed to Livia, along with similar coins with Salus and Justice. However, the three portraits are three different individuals. Each represents one of the important Tiberian woman. Salus (Health) has the legend Salus Augusta. Since Livia was the only woman of 22-23 A.D. who had the title Augusta, these coins must be a comment on the Health of the Augusta.</p>
<p>It has been suggested that the portrait of Pietas on this coin should be connected to the another important female of the era, Claudia Livilla. Since Livilla had recently fulfilled her familial duty by producing heirs for a new, Claudian dynasty, she would have been a more logical model for Pietas than Livia, who by then was in her late 70s.</p>
Estimated Value
Master Variant
Master Subvariant
Coins
Estimated Value
- Type: Coins
- Released: 23 BC/BCE
- Discontinued: 22 BC/BCE
- Related Subjects: Claudia Livilla , Drusus the Elder , Livia Drusilla , Mint of Rome , Rome , Tiberius
Roman Imperial, Drusus Caesar (19 - 23 CE) Bronze Dupondius, Rome mint.
- Obverse PIETAS / diademed and draped bust of Livia as Pietas right
- Reverse: DRVSVS CAESAR TI AVGVSTI F TR POT ITER / Legend around large S C
Reference:
- RIC I 43
- BMC 98
- Cohen 1
Other Information:
The obverse portrait on this coin is generally attributed to Livia, along with similar coins with Salus and Justice. However, the three portraits are three different individuals. Each represents one of the important Tiberian woman. Salus (Health) has the legend Salus Augusta. Since Livia was the only woman of 22-23 A.D. who had the title Augusta, these coins must be a comment on the Health of the Augusta.
It has been suggested that the portrait of Pietas on this coin should be connected to the another important female of the era, Claudia Livilla. Since Livilla had recently fulfilled her familial duty by producing heirs for a new, Claudian dynasty, she would have been a more logical model for Pietas than Livia, who by then was in her late 70s.
- Released: 23 BC/BCE
- Discontinued: 22 BC/BCE
- Related Subjects: Claudia Livilla , Drusus the Elder , Livia Drusilla , Mint of Rome , Rome , Tiberius
