M. Aurelius Valerius Claudius
Dynasty: Family of Claudius II
Augustus (AD 268-270)Marcus Aurelius Valerius Claudius (an Illyrian commander) was a key member (and benefactor) of the conspiracy against the Roman emperor Gallienus in AD 268. After Gallienus was assassinated, Claudius was proclaimed emperor. At this time the Roman Empire was in peril – the Western provinces had separated under the rebel emperor Postumus, the Eastern provinces had been ransacked by Persians and now looked to Palmyra for leadership and the German tribes were invading from the North. Claudius first defeated the Alemannia and then decisively vanquished the Goths at Naissus, for which he earned the name “Gothicus”. He could not, however, address the decline in coinage, and the denomination we call a “antoninianus”, which was initially a silver coin when it was introduced fifty five years ago, had declined to a bare silver wash over a bronze coin with less than 5% silver (this coin has a mere trace of the silvering in a patch on the reverse. Claudius died after a short reign in AD 270, from a plague that was ravaging the empire. He was the first in a series of Illyrian soldier emperors that gradually restored the empire’s fortunes.
For explanations of many of the abbreviations used in Roman imperial obverse legends, click here.
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Claudius II Bronze antoninianus issued AD 268/269 Obv: IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG, Radiate, draped bust facing right Rev: ANNONA AVG, Annona holding corn ears and cornucopiae, prow at feet
Good Very Fine
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AUD $80.00
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Claudius II Bronze antoninianus issued AD 268-270 Obv: IMP CLAVDIVS PF AVG, Radiate, draped bust right Rev: VICTORIAE GOTHIC, (SPQR in ex.), Trophy between two seated captives
Nearly Very Fine
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AUD $100.00
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Claudius II Bronze antoninianus issued AD 270 Obv: DIVO CLAVDIO, Radiate, draped bust right Rev: CONSECRATIO, Altar
Very Fine
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AUD $40.00
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