Agrippa Postumus, son of Agrippa and Julia, grandson and intended heir of Augustus. Æ 21 of CORINTH in Achaea. Issued under Augustus. Bare head of Agrippa Postumus r.; AGRIPPA CAESA[R CORINTHI]. Rv. C. MVSSO PRISCO IIVIR CHEI[O POLL] IO[NE ITER] in four lines within wreath of parsley. BMC 510, cf RPC 1141, SNG Ash.1150. Very rare. Olive-green brown over pitting. Very Good+. (Est. $400-$600)
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa Postumus was born a few weeks after the death of his father, hence the agnomen Postumus. A pall on the imperial Augustan light, a depraved, moody and brutish boy according to ancient historians, Agrippa Postumus could not ''play nice'' with his oldest co-heir Tiberius, who was adopted along with him by Augustus in 4 A.D. Through the machinations of Livia, Agrippa Postumus was sent to Surrentum by his grandfather, then condemned by the Senate, in 7 A.D., to permanent exile on the island of Planasia.
Seven years later, Augustus either visited or planned to visit his exiled grandson. Livia, fearing that Augustus intended to bring his natural grandson back into the imperial fold, thus losing her son Tiberius his inheritance, poisoned the emperor -- at least say ancient sources. Soon after the death of Augustus, Agrippa Postumus was murdered by a staff officer on Planasia -- likely on the orders of Livia or Tiberius.
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