Got this coin the other day. My son, visiting from the UK, said it was a gift to me from his father-in-law, who knew I was into coins. Though I never dabbled in ancients, the condition of this particular coin seems too clean to be as old as is stated on the certificate of authenticity. I don't know what was paid for this coin as it was a gift.
Some ancient coins are in even better condition than yours. You should not be concerned. Looks absolutely authentic to my old eyes.
Looks great! Claudius II Gothicus AE Antoninianus. Rome Mint 268 AD. Obverse: IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Reverse: AEQVITAS AVG Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopia. References: RIC 14.
Its good, one of those is an old CoinCraft label, if my memory is not failing me. Would have cost quite a bit versus market when purchased, but as usual for them, a quality coin that pays for itself in the long-run.
That's a nice looking Claudius II, Gothicus. Not sure why they went with "11" vice "II" but whatever. Still a nice coin
I don’t know what it is… they’re common, often in rough shape and sometimes the artistry isn’t great… but I love Claudius II and his coins. Sounds like a tough guy too. Here’s one that I haven’t posted in awhile that I like: Claudius II - Milan - RIC V-1 172 var. and this one too: Claudius II - Cyzicus - RIC V-1 252 var.
I don't have anything quite as smooth as OP, but this one has a similar patina: I suspect the OP's coin must have been run through a rock polishing machine, as many ancient coins are apt to have been subjected to.
absolutely… I am jealous as pizza is softening mine! From the Historia Augusta (not a great source but how can you not enjoy this paragraph): “Now Claudius himself was noted for the gravity of his character, and noted, too, for his matchless life and a singular purity; he was sparing in his use of wine, but was not averse to food; he was tall of stature, with flashing eyes and a broad, full face, and so strong were his fingers that often by a blow of his fist he would dash out the teeth of a horse or a mule. He even performed a feat of this kind as a youth in military service, while taking part in a wrestling-match between some of the strongest champions at a spectacle in the Campus Martius held in honour of Mars. 7 For, becoming angry at one fellow who grasped at his private parts instead of his belt, he dashed out all the man's teeth with one blow of his fist. This action won him favour for thus protecting decency for the Emperor Decius, who was present when this was done, publicly praised his courage and modesty and presented him with arm-rings and collars, but bade him withdraw from the soldiers' contests for fear he might do some more violent deed than the wrestling required.” Source: https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Historia_Augusta/Claudius*.html
General rule of thumb: it is often possible to identify a fake coin from a photo, but it is never possible to be 100% certain that it is genuine. That said, I can see nothing in the photo that would make me suspect that it is fake. Here's mine Claudius II. The reverse is pretty eaten up, the flan is too small, but I think the portrait is stunning: Billon Antoninianus Siscia mint, Issue IV Obv: IMP CLAVDIVS AVG Rev: PROVIDEN AVG - Providentia, standing left, holding baton and cornucopiae; globe at feet S in right field RIC 187 19mm, 2.5g.
If you research past CNG sales you will find a specialize collection of his that included many special types. All mine are quite ordinary. This one is weakly struck but retains some of the original silvering.
Gold too! But gold coins for Claudius II seem to be rare. Check out this gold version similar to your coin and the note: “Light aureus (Gold, 1.66 g 12), Siscia, 269-270.Obverse: IMP CLAVDIVS AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Claudius II to right.Reverse: AEQVITAS AVG Aequitas standing left, holding scales in her right hand and cornucopia in her left.Rarity: Unique. References: Biaggi –. Calicó –. C. –. H & L 49 (this coin). Cf. RIC 178 (antoninianus).Condition: Weakly struck from antoninianus dies, but, otherwise, good extremely fine.Estimate:8000 – Provenance: Purchased privately, and from the Corsica Hoard of 1957. Note: This is a particular fascinating coin. Today gold coins of Claudius II are all extremely rare: those of Milan are the most common today thanks to the pieces found in the Corsica Hoard, but coins from Rome and other mints are astonishingly hard to find. Before 1957 there were only two known aurei from Siscia (one in Zagreb and one in Paris), now, counting the two from the hoard, there are four, with this piece being the most extraordinary. While the three other coins were minted from specially prepared aureus dies, this piece was struck from dies made for an antoninianus: this phenomenon is also known for Gallienus, and at Milan reverses used for gold pieces were often also used for antonininiani (see Göbl 1423 for antoniniani of Gallienus from Siscia with reverse dies that are very close to the one used to strike this piece; see H & L p. 94 for die use at Milan). H & L suggest that dies intended for an antoninianus were used in order to rapidly produce a special donative for Claudius II’s great victory over the Goths, but that emperor’s sudden death precluded the issue and most were melted down.” https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=221234
