Around the words

Besides the images there is also a bit of text around the edge of the obverse. Alex cannot read Latin, so they ask Sophia to read it out. “The text here, which numismatists call the legend, reads out AGRIPP AVG DIVI CLAVD NERONIS CAES MATER. Translated, it means ‘Agrippina Augusta, wife of Divus Claudius, mother of Nero Caesar.’ Incredibly, these are the names and titles of Agrippina. Normally this is where we would read those of the emperor instead. Could you think of any reason why?” Sophia asked. “Maybe Agrippina decided this.” Alex said. “Might be, Alex.” Sophia replied, “but sadly, there isn’t any evidence on the way coins were designed in antiquity. Nevertheless, at the making of this coin in 54, Agrippina was at the akme of her power and influence, so she could possibly have influenced the design. That would be a cool idea right? It is also possible that other people designed this coin, and were trying to convey the power of Agrippina and her relationship with Nero. Either way, I think it gives a glance at the level of power Agrippina truly had.”