Billon tetradrachm from Alexandria, Claudius AD 46 |
Valeria Messallina (c. AD 20-48) was married at the age of 14 in AD 39 to the future emperor Claudius. She was his third wife and bore him two children, Octavia and Britannicus. She was notorious for her promiscuity and her alleged involvement with political intrigue. In AD 48, after Messallina took part in the formalities of a wedding service with the consul-designate Gaius Silius, (she was still married to Claudius), Narcissus, the emperor's freedman turned against her and sent an executioner to deal with her. Encouraged by her mother, Messallina eventually committed suicide. Silius and eight co-conspirators were executed. Messallina's name was erased from inscriptions in Rome and her portraits were removed. On this coin reverse a modestly portrayed empress Messallina is shown standing, holding her offspring Octavia and Britannicus. Messallina is presented here in the guise of Eutycheia (Felicitas), the personification of happiness and prosperity. During the empire Felicitas is often depicted on coin reverses to convey either a message that the empress has given birth, or that all is well in the empire. The Greek reverse legend reads:  Obv. Claudius, head surrounded by Greek legend, year 6 = L digamma under chin. |
