Hello, I'm an italian collector. I have purchased some days ago this coin: Ob\ "IMP C M AVR CLAVDIVS AVG", off. mint: "•••". Rv\ "PAX AETERNA", ex.: "SPQR". Cyzicus, new RIC n. #944 I have found only 3 ex on new RIC and another one from Auctiones GmbH n. 50/2016 lot. n. 242 (here: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=3247784). About Cyzicus mint under Claudius II I know only one paper: "L'overtour de l'atelier imperial de Cyzique..." by Jerome Mairat. Do you know others bibliographic references? I think that it's a not so common piece... Many thanks to all! ...and sorry for my bad english!!!!
Welcome @grigioviola. In a quick (lazy) search I found that only Cyzicus used the dots on the obverse, but I didn't find any left facing busts. But, like I said, I did not check very thoroughly.
Thanks to all! Yes, it's from Cyzicus with no doubts. With this type of left bust, I have found only 5 specimens (with mine). All the specimens seem to show the same obv. dies (and two the same rev. dies), you can see the pics here: https://www.lamoneta.it/topic/176950-claudio-ii-zecca-di-cyzico/ I'm searching new scholars studies about this mint under Claudius if you know! And also others example of this coin!
The SPQR is one of the most interesting, compact and well made series from the coinage of Claudius II. The new imperial mint at Cyzicus was staffed with the die-cutters from Smyrna (or Asian mint as referred to in RIC), which had been producing a very scarce late series for Gallienus around 267-268. Smyrna also minted a few types of the series itself in the winter of 268-269 before being relocated to Cyzicus where the bulk of this SPQR series was struck. The old Smyrna types were not carried over to Cyzicus but the style, the good quality metal used and the consistence is still there. Also interesting, slam in the middle of this SPQR emission, Cyzicus minted another rare series marked M - C (Moneta Cyzicus), possibly an experimental issue. So we have for 269 at Cyzicus: - issue 1 SPQR with carry-over long obv legend from Smyrna but new reverse types (early 269 to spring 269) - issue 2 M - C experimental with long carry-over obv legend from Smyrna but different reverse types (mid 269) - issue 3 SPQR again which starts with the long obv legend throughout summer and autumn of 269 and ends in a short obv legend early in 270. Your spec is one of the 3rd issue before the obv legend gets from IMP C M AVR CLAVDIVS AVG to IMP CLAVDIVS AVG in the winter of 269-270.
I have a left facing Claudius II but not from Cyzicus. I believe it is RIC 200 variant for bust left. (Although I would not be surprised to be wrong)
Hello, grigioviola, and welcome to Coin Talk. A quick comment on your query. Unless you already have, try contacting "Claudius Gothicus, Wikipedia". Coins are shown, but maybe not the Czicus mint (which I expect exists in several varieties). There is an enormous amount of biographical information about Claudius II, and sources, as much as you want to know, and more !!! Well worth looking up.
thanks for this reply. reading the online RIC version this is the story of the Cyzicus mint under Claudius II. But there is some bibliographic reference? I found only the paper of J. Mairat...
Welcome aboard, @grigioviola ! I've been away for a while but have returned to see a lot of new members making great contributions to the Forum. Living in Italy must be amazing. You can walk where the Legions marched and visit the places where so many great people from history lived and worked.
Mr. Mairat's article "L'ouverture de l'atelier imperial de Cyzique sous le regne de Claude II le Gothique" is probably the best introduction to the relation between Smyrna (Asian mint) and Cyzicus. It's also a very thorough source for the M - C series. You might have noticed that RIC is pretty much useless for this period, but a syntetic reading of the catalog will give you an overview of the issues per year of an emperor. An then there are the sales and auctions catalogs and individual collections like for instance the Gysen collection.
Thank you for a very interesting and helpful comment. My ClaudiusII, as can be noticed, has a reverse with"Virtuti Avg".
A few small pieces to the puzzle ? PAX AETERNA meaning eternal peace. - Pax standing left, holding olive branch upward in right hand, sceptre in left: SPQR in exergue.