Mike Markowitz published the latest article in his CoinWeek Ancient Coin Series on the coinage of Claudius I. It's a brief -- but excellent -- overview of his coins, from the highly-coveted aurei illustrated in his article ... To the lowly quadrantes, such as this one in my collection. Claudius, AD 41-54. Roman Æ quadrans, 3.95 gm; 15.1 mm. Rome mint, AD 41. Obv: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG, modius. Rev: PON M TR P IMP COS DES IT around large SC. Refs: BMCRE 179; RIC 84; Cohen 70; RCV 1863. Let's see some Claudius coins!
Interesting article. I wonder why the author chose to not include the most common coin of Claudius, the Minerva as: Claudius, Roman Empire, as, 41–54 AD, Rome mint. Obv: [TI] CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP, bareheaded head of Claudius left. Rev; S–C, Minerva walking left, brandishing javelin and holding shield. 29mm, 10.35g. Ref: RIC I Claudius 100. And here is my most interesting "Claudius" coin, an unofficial imitation of a Minerva as. These are typically found in Britain as well as in the Balkans and were probably produced to compensate for a local shortage of official small change: "Claudius," Roman Emire, British (?) imitation of AE As, ca. 43–54 BC, struck in Britain (?). Obv: TI CLAV ... PM IMP ..., head of Claudius l. Rev: Minerva advancing r., holding shield and brandishing javelin. 28mm, 5.48g. Ref: RIC I Claudius 116 (prototype). Claudius also struck coins bearing the image of his deceased brother Germanicus: Germanicus (postumous issue under Claudius), AE as, 40–54 AD, Rome mint. Obv: GERMANICVS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N; head of Germanicus, bare, r. Rev: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR P IMP P P; large S C. Ref: RIC I (second edition) Claudius 106. 27mm, 10.81g.
Thanks for sharing! The upper coin is in my collection. According to RIC, it was minted in Rome. The lower coin was minted in Lyons, apparently. I wrote about them in this post, two years ago. Here are some other Claudius coins: Claudius. 41-54 AD. Æ Quadrans, Rome 41 AD. Obverse: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG, three-legged modius. Reverse: PON M TR P IMP COS DES IT around large S·C. Reference: RIC I 84; BMCRE 179; Cohen 70. Diameter: 16mm. Conservation: VF Two recently bough provincials with nice portraits. 16 and 21mm.
Here is my contribution. Actually not a bad coin, What would value be?? If you would hazard A guess please.
Thanks for the article link, RC. As for Claudius, look what the cat dragged in last week - an Agrippina, Sr. sestertius issued by Claudius (her brother-in-law). I noticed the article neglected to mention this person: Agrippina the Elder Æ Sest. (c. 42-43 A.D. / 50-54 A.D.) Rome Mint [AG]RI[P]PINA M F GERMANICI CA[ESARIS], draped bust right, hair in plait / TI CLAVDIVS CAES[AR•A]VG GERM•P•MTR•P•IMP•P•P• around large S C. RIC I Claudius 102; BMC 219. (26.38 grams / 33 x 32 mm) eBay Mar. 2022
Great article! I've always had a special interest in Claudius ever since reading the Robert Graves novels I, Claudius and Claudius the God. Never saw the TV show, but the books are excellent. I just wish that his denarii weren't so rare and expensive! Here are a few of my Claudius coins:
One of my favorite Claudius. Claudius I (AD 41-54). AR cistophorusClaudius I (AD 41-54). AR cistophorus (10.8gm,26mm, 6h). NGC Fine. Ephesus, ca. AD 41-42. TI CLAVD-CAES AVG, bare head of Claudius I left / DIAN-EPHE, tetrastyle temple with three steps containing central standing figure of Diana Ephesia, polos on head and fillets hanging from wrists; shield, altars, two stags and figures in pediment. RIC I 118. Ex Heritage online auction Dec 2020, lot 61118.(10.8gm,26mm, 6h)
Not convinced this one is official: Crisp legends, yum: Germanicus: His mum (Caligula on the obv): Nero and Agrippina (did she kill Claudius?): I love this bit: “…I must say that when I first saw the model of the gold piece that the mint-masters were striking for me, I grew angry … My little head with its worried face perched on my long neck … shocked me. But Messalina said, No my dear, that’s really what you look like. In fact, it’s rather flattering.” (Graves, 95) I'm thinking Messalina wouldn't have said the same about her portrayal on the reverse of this Alexandrian tet:
Here's the long-necked emperor with Agrippina the Younger, his final wife: Claudius, with Agrippina Junior. AD 41-54. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.58 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 51. TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG GERM P M TRIB POT P P, laureate head of Claudius right / AGRIPPINAE AVGVSTAE, draped bust of Agrippina the Younger right, wearing wreath of grain ears from which one long tie hangs down at the back, her hair in fastened in a long plait looped up behind her neck, two locks fall loose down her neck. RIC I 81; von Kaenel Type 50 (unlisted dies); RSC 4. From the Maxwell Collection.
My latest acquisition (from today's Kunker auction) is one of my favourite coins. Claudius (AD 41-54) & Agrippina Jr. (Augusta, AD 49-54) AR Denarius (19mm, 3.57 g). Rome mint. AD 51. TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG GERM P M TRIB POT P P, laureate head right / AGRIPPINAE AVGVSTAE, draped bust of Agrippina Jr right, wreathed in grain. RIC I 81. Ex Fritz Rudolf Kunker Auction 365 (April 4, 2022), lot 5242. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Auction 112 (September 11, 2019), lot 594. Ex Cederlind BBS 172 (18 December, 2013), lot 226. Ex Vinchon (9 December 1983), lot 276. Photo by CNG
Congratulations! I noticed that coin myself, and wondered if I should go all in on Kuenker. It really is a nice example of a wonderful type! As there were so many other interesting coins for sale, I decided to drop Kuenker alltogether. Glad to see the coin found a good home. It’s a keeper for sure! I’m waiting for this, from Naville: Claudius (41-54) and Antonia Egypt, Alexandria. BI Tetradrachm circa 42-43 (year 3), Obverse: Laureate head r.; in r. field, LΓ. Reverse: ΑΝΤΩΝΙΑ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ Bust of Antonia r. Reference: RPC 5133. Dattari 117. Size: 24.20 mm. Weight: 10.94 g. Extremely rare, only two specimens listed in RPC and none on coinarchives, About Very Fine.
Just a few; no denarii -- too expensive! Claudius I AE As, AD 42, Rome Mint. Obv. Bare head left, TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P / Rev. Libertas standing facing, head right, holding pileus in right hand, left hand extended, LIBERTAS AVGVSTA / S - C. RIC I 113, Sear RCV I 1860, BMCRE 202. 31.62 mm., 11.18 g. Claudius I, billon [Sear]/AR [RPC] Tetradrachm, Year 2 [41/42 AD], Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, ΤΙ ΚΛΑVΔΙ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒΑ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙ ΑVΤΟΚΡ around, LΒ [Year 2] under chin / Rev. Draped bust of Antonia [Claudius’s mother] right, ΑΝΤΩΝΙΑ upwards to left, ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ downwards to right. ); https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/5117; Emmett 73.2 [Emmett, Keith, Alexandrian Coins (Lodi, WI, 2001)]; Sear RCV I 1868 (ill.); Sear GIC 492 (ill.) [D. Sear, Greek Imperial Coins and their Values (1982)]; BMC 16 Alexandria 65 at p. 9 [Poole, Reginald Stuart, A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Vol. 16, Alexandria (London, 1892)]; K & G 12.3 [Kampmann, Ursula & Ganschow, Thomas, Die Münzen der römischen Münzstätte Alexandria (2008)]; Milne 61-64 at p. 3 [Milne, J.G., Catalogue of Alexandrian Coins (Oxford 1933, reprint with supplement by Colin M. Kraay, 1971)]; Dattari (Savio) 114 [Savio, A. ed., Catalogo completo della collezione Dattari Numi Augg. Alexandrini (Trieste, 2007)]. 24 mm., 11.25 g. Claudius I, billon [Sear & others]/AR [RPC] Tetradrachm, Year 4 [43/44 AD], Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, ΤΙ ΚΛΑVΔΙ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒΑ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙ ΑVΤΟΚΡ around, LΔ [Year 4] under chin / Rev. Messalina [Third wife of Claudius and mother of Britannicus] as Demeter, standing facing, head left, wearing long chiton, leaning left elbow on short column, holding grain ears in left arm and two standing children [representing Claudia Octavia and Britannicus*] on outstretched right hand; to left, lituus; ΜΕΣΣΑΛΙΝΑ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒΑΣ. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. I 5146 (1992); RPC I Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/5146; Emmett 74.4 [Emmett, Keith, Alexandrian Coins (Lodi, WI, 2001)]; Milne 93 at p. 3 [Milne, J.G., Catalogue of Alexandrian Coins (Oxford 1933, reprint with supplement by Colin M. Kraay, 1971)]; K&G 12.36 [Kampmann, Ursula & Ganschow, Thomas, Die Münzen der römischen Münzstätte Alexandria (2008)]; Dattari (Savio) 126198 [Savio, A. ed., Catalogo completo della collezione Dattari Numi Augg. Alexandrini (Trieste, 2007)]; Köln 82 [Geissen, A., Katalog alexandrinischer Kaisermünzen, Köln, Band I (Augustus-Trajan) (Cologne, 1974); Sear RCV I 1869 [Year 6; ill. of Year 2 w/lituus at p. 369.] 23 mm., 13.02 g., 12 h. *Her two children with Claudius, both born before Year 4 of Claudius’s reign; Claudia Octavia later became the Emperor Nero’s first wife. See note in Sear RCV I at p. 369.