Mysia, Kyzikos. Britannicus (Caesar), Claudia Antonia and Claudia Octavia, AD. 41-55. AE, 1.68 g. - 12.89 mm. Reign of Claudius.
Obv.: NЄOC ΓЄPMANIKOC / K - Y. Bare head of Britannicus, right.
Rev.: AN OKTA. Confronted draped busts of Antonia and Claudia Octavia.
Ref.: RPC I 2248.
Fine.

Britannicus was born Tiberius Claudius Germanicus on February 12, AD 41, only a few weeks after his father became the emperor Claudius. His name was changed to Tiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus after the Roman conquest of Britain in AD 43. In the ancient sources he is most often simply Britannicus. He was the second child and only son of Claudius and his third wife Valeria Messalina. Their first child had been a daughter, Octavia, older by a few years. Another daughter, Antonia, had been born to Claudius and a previous wife; two other children were long dead. Valeria Messalina, while still wife of Claudius, married Gaius Silius, who was forced to adopt Britannicus as his son. Silius was the consul designatus for 49 AD. The bigamous relationship was discovered, as were their plans to overthrow Claudius, declare Britannicus emperor and jointly rule the empire. Messalina and Silius were executed while Britannicus was 7 years old. Britannicus was poisoned by Nero on 11 February 55 CE during the feast in front of all guests by the poisoner Locusta (Locusta of Gaul: The Imperial Poisoner of Ancient Rome), on the day before his fourteenth birthday, when he was about to put on a man’s toga. Britannicus was served with poisoned water in a vase. When the boy fell dead on the dining table, Nero alerted the guests that his adopted brother had an epileptic attack and that they would better focus on food. A party attended by one of his best friends, Titus, who also ended up drinking some of the poison, but recovered after a long illness. Titus would eventually go on to become emperor and issue coins and erect a status to honor Britannicus.