Emperor, Claudius Year, 41-42A 10.17.g/28.5 mm OBV: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP. Bare head left REV: Minerva striding right brandishing javelin in right, shield on left arm S.C flanking low across field RIC I 100, SRCV I 1861,BMCRE I 149.
Very well centered and high detailed coin. Here's my "not as nice" Claudius. CLAUDIUS AE As OBVERSE: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TR P IMP P P, bare head left. REVERSE: Minerva advancing right, holding shield and brandishing a javelin, S-C across fields Struck at Rome, 50-4AD 10.5G, 25MM RIC 116
Very nice coins folks, especially the OP Bing, stylewise, yours looks much more like a produce of a branch mint, just like mine does (although it's a CONSTANTIAE AVGVSTI reverse) Look here for a thread at Forvm where the subject has been debated some time ago : http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=65318.0 Q
You may be correct. I have another Claudius coin which we have discussed here as being from a Spanish mint: CLAUDIUS AE As OBVERSE: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TRP IMP P P - Bare head left REVERSE: CONSTANTIAE AVGVSTI - Constantia standing left, raising hand and holding spear; S C across fields Struck at Spain, 42/3AD 12.7g, 25mm RIC111, BMC201, S1858
That's a nice one too. Here is mine Claudius, As produced at a "branch mint", AD 41-42 TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP, Bare head of Claudius left CONSTANTIAE AVGVSTI, Constantia helmeted standing left holding spear, SC in field 10,84 gr Ref : RCV #1857, Cohen #14 Q
Agreed. But official busts have their own "charm" Claudius, Dupondius TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP, head left CERES AVGVSTA, Ceres, veiled and draped, seated left on ornamental throne, holding two corn-ears and a long torch, S C in exergue. 11,20 gr Ref : RCV # 1855, RIC # 94 Q
Yummy, ro1974 ... that's a fantastic new score (congrats) Holy schmokes!! => you guys are bringin' out the big guns!! (beautiful examples!!) Claudius, eh? ... well, I can add-in a couple of round objects ... => I have my beautiful "fake" and I have my sweet desert-dawg!! (similar to Bing's example) My infamous 19th/20th century "cast forgery" (man, too bad, eh?) ... => yup, this baby failed when it visited David Sear's California Ranch My sweet desert-dawg
I'm curious to hear more about why you like the branch mint bust design more than the Rome design. For example, is it because the bust itself is larger and occupies more of the obverse non-legend space? Or does the artistic style look better to you? Or some other reasons? I've generally found the "imperial" mints' portraits to be more artistic than those from most/all of the so-called "branch" mints. This OP Claudius is no exception, and appears (to my eye) to be more nuanced and artfully rendered than the branch mint coin shown above. In particular, I find the OP Claudius portrait to be one of the better Rome mint portraits; its style is better than many asses from this period. But I'd like to hear more about how the branch mint portraits appeal to you.
Here's my Claudius as, purchased in Triton XVII about a year ago. I have consigned it back to CNG and now they are going to put it in an e-auction instead of a public sale...not too happy about that!
I guess to each his own. But what appeals to me is the design. They seem to show better detail in the face. And they don't seem to stop at the head. The detail continues down onto the neck. I find that I like Spanish minted Claudius portraits.