The Coins Of Claudius, Faustina I, And Marcus Aurelius

â€Å"The coin types may be considered political from the start, for the ubiquitous references to family and to ancestral achievements were a normal part of political discourse at Rome.† Coins were an integral part of society in Rome. In addition to coins economic function, emperors used coins as propaganda about their achievements and their family members. These coins would have been produced and used throughout the empire as an â€Å"abstract symbolism of power.† This was the case with funerary subject matter that was struck by heirs and other family members to showcase individuals being consecrated, and their own power as a result of this association. In this essay, I am going to examine the coins of Claudius, Faustina I, and Marcus Aurelius,†¦show more content†¦The Aureus of Divus Claudius was struck under Nero after Claudius’ death in 54 B.C.E. During Claudius’ reign, he â€Å"proclaimed his intention to follow the policies of Augustus, a nd restored stability after the follies of Caligula. He received the title of pater patriae in January 42† B.C.E. Nero was Claudius’ stepson through Agrippina, and he was eventually adopted after Agrippina convinced Claudius to pick Nero over Claudius’ own son Britannicus. By representing his adopted father, Nero gained a smoother transition when he took over. The obverse of this coin says DIVUS CLAUDIUS AUGUSTUS or the divine emperor Claudius along with a portrait of Claudius. This was an important power distinction for Nero to make, as he would become the son of a divine figure. The portrait of Claudius shows him as a mature man with wrinkles and a laurel crown. This would have been how Claudius was represented in life as well as an eternal middle-aged figure. One of the characteristic features of Claudius shown on this coin is his retreating Claudian chin. The reverse side shows a quadriga carrying a funeral wagon. Above the wagon are statuary depictions o f a divine figure with wings controlling four additional horses. This imagery highlights Claudius’ divine nature, when he became a divus after his death. The Sestertius of Diva Faustina I was struck under Antoninus Pius’ reign from between 141 to 162 B.C.E. Faustina I was emperor Antoninus Pius’ wife and when she died â€Å"a