Claudius - SPES sestertius (D2390)

Claudius, 41-54. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 34 mm, 27,51 g), Rome, 41-42 AD. TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP Laureate head of Claudius to right. Rev. SPES AVGVSTA / S C Spes advancing left, holding flower in her right hand and raising her skirt with her left. BMC 124. Cohen 85. RIC 99. aEF

The fact that Claudius chooses Spes, the goddess of hope, to occupy such a prominent place on his coinage, makes it clear that she was present in his thoughts. Carson suggests the type was introduced in the accession year of 41 because his own birthday, August 1, was the day of the vota to Spes, and in that accession year, Claudius invoked her assistance on behalf of his newborn son, Britannicus. Spes was also the goddess of the future, which gave her a prominent role in certain kinds of occasions, especially weddings and births, the latter of which made her valuable to children. With all of this in mind, his choice of Spes was especially appropriate during the event-filled year of 41. Carson notes that the Spes type afterward became a standard dynastic type for imperial heirs. In this case the reverse inscription, SPES AVGVSTA, takes on a more complete dimension by suggesting hope for the empire through the imperial family. Kent notes that by the time the later Spes sestertii were minted by Claudius, the “hope” of the Imperial succession had been transferred from Britannicus to his adopted son, Nero. The existence of numerous temples and altars to Spes in the capital, and the fine renderings of the goddess on Claudius’ sestertii suggest they are based upon a statuary prototype – perhaps one of great antiquity, considering its archaizing qualities.