CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, BMCRE Vol. I, Rome, No. 185, (Pl. 36.1) CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, RIC Vol. I, Rome, No. 112 (50-54AD, 36mm, 28.2gm) Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing right Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP PP Reverse depiction: Civic Oak Wreath Inscription in four lines: EX SC P P OB CIVES SERVATOS (within Civic wreath) The senate proclaiming him “Father of the country” .(Pater Patriae) and distinguished servant of the people of Rome RIC Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 109, 42-43AD (38mm, 28.0gm) Obverse depiction: Nero Claudius Drusus, bare head facing left Inscription: NERO CLAVDIVS DRVSVS GERMANICVS IMP Reverse depiction: Claudius seated left on curule chair holding olive branch, weapons and armor below Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP PP - S C (exergue) Nero Claudius Drusus was the father of Claudius Commemorating his father’s exploits on the northern Frontier RIC Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 99 41-50 AD, (36mm, 25.3gm) Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing right Inscription clockwise from bottom: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP Reverse depiction: Personification of Spes holding flower in right hand and demurely raising skirt with left hand Inscription clockwise from bottom: SPES AVGVSTA - S C (exergue) BMCRE Vol I, CLAUDIUS, As, Rome, No. 206 (Pl. 36.6) RIC Vol I, CLAUDIUS, As, Rome, No. 113 (AD 50) Obverse: Claudius, bare headed facing left Inscription clockwise from bottom: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P Reverse: Personification of Liberty, standing right, holding Pileus (Freedman’s cap) in right hand Inscription clockwise from bottom: LIBERTAS AVGVSTA | S -------- C (left and right)
Very nice Jamesicus. Here's one I'm proud of: (formerly slabbed) Claudius (Augustus) Coin: Brass Sestertius TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P - Laureate head right with NCAPR countermark behind head. NERO CLAVDIVS DRVSVS GERMAN IMP, S C - Arch of Nero Claudius Drusus: triumphal arch consisting of single arch & decorated piers set on raised base with four columns supporting ornate attic. Exergue: Mint: Rome (42AD) Wt./Size/Axis: 24.20g / 35mm / 180 Rarity: Scarce References: RIC 114 Cohen 48 BMC 187 Acquisition/Sale: shpadoinkle24 Ebay $0.00 8/17 Notes: Jan 9, 19 - NCAPR Countermark The Gary R. Wilson Collection
Thanks Gary. Nice coin. Here is my specimen: CLAUDIUS TRIUMPHAL ARCH SESTERTIUS WITH NERO COUNTERMARK Evidently Nero also Countermarked and issued Claudius aes coinage in order to extend the supply of money in Britain after the death of Claudius. BMCRE, Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 123, 41-45AD (35mm, 22.3gm) Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing right Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP Countermarked NCAPR in oblong incuse rectangle behind head (unknown mark on head) Reverse depiction: Triumphal arch surmounted by equestrian statue of Nero Claudius Drusus Inscription: NERO CLAVDIVS DRVSVS GERMAN IMP Enlargement of NCAPR countermark:
Of Jamesicus' four bronzes, only the Drusus sestertius and the Claudius As are from the mint of Rome. Claudius Spes sestertius: Spanish mint, probably Tarraco, because of different legend style (particularly the Ms and Rs), and the dots before and after S C in rev. exergue. A large hoard of sestertii and dupondii all in this style was found near Tarraco in 1872 (Pobla de Mafumet Hoard). Claudius Wreath sestertius: Undetermined Thracian mint, perhaps end of reign in same issue with Britannicus, Agrippina II, and Nero Caesar sestertii, because of somewhat clumsy style and centration dimples on both sides. Laffranchi correctly separated the Tarraco mint and one other Spanish or Gallic mint from Rome in 1948, but unfortunately his discovery was ignored by Sutherland in his revised RIC I (1984) and by Giard in his Paris catalogue (1988), with the result that their only mint distinction for Claudius bronzes, as in the original RIC I and in Cohen, was between "Official (Mint of Rome)" and "Imitations". Von Kaenel in his monograph on Claudius (1986) followed Laffranchi in correctly separating out the Tarraco mint, but improbably regarded it as a branch mint in Rome commissioned by the government to assist in the production of bronze coins.
The coin pictured below is a thick & heavy as issued under Claudius from the mint in Antioch, Syria. Claudius, AD 41-54, AE as: 18.43 gm, 25 mm, 12 h. McAlee 250c/1, this coin. Ex Richard McAlee Collection. Claudius, AD 41-54, AE Sestertius: 21.84 gm, 42 mm, NCAPR countermark applied during the reign of Vespasian. Ex Richard Baker Collection. Apparently many coins of Claudius were kept in circulation a long time due to a shortage of copper. Notice how light this coin is compared to the example posted by Jamesicus.
The portraits of Claudius are interesting. He is described many places as a weak man with his looks against him. On his coins he often looks strong, I think.
This one turns out to be a wildwinds plate coin. Claudius (41-54 A.D.) AE19 Attaleia, Pamphylia Obverse: Bare head of Claudius left Reverse: ATTAAEΩN, helmeted head of Athena right Attaleia mint 4.4 grams Reference: Baydur 15, BMC 13 (plate 23,8) Istanbul museum collection 7726 Ex-Heritage Auctions, Aug. 9, 2012.
I think his likeness on the Aes coinage is just Imperial propaganda. It seems like you get a more accurate image from his gold and silver coins, similar to Caligula's coinage.
Great coins, @jamesicus! I don't have any sestertii of Claudius to share, but I do have these: Claudius as, RIC 100. It has a unique style from what I typically see. I don't know if it alludes to a place of origin, or simply reflects the personal style of a celator. Claudius As, RIC 113
Very nice nice coins, @jb_depew - thanks. If you are lucky, the illustrious Curtis Clay may shed some light on your RIC 100 As.
