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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;seth77, post: 2168057, member: 56653&quot;]Hello everyone,</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>If you enjoy late roman bronzes, here is something interesting.</p><p>At first glance it looks like a regular PAX AETERNA - SPQR from Cyzicus:</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><font size="5"><b>CLAUDIUS AE24mm 2.90g billon Antoninian (aVF, weak strike on reverse)</b></font></p><p><br /></p><p>AV: IMP C M AVR CLAVDIVS AVG; radiate draped seen from back bust right, · · · underneath (officina marks)</p><p><br /></p><p>REV: PAX AETERNA; Pax stg. l., holding olive branch in r. hand and long transverse sceptre in l. hand. (affected by the weak strike)</p><p><br /></p><p>EXE: S P Q R</p><p><br /></p><p>REF: RIC V-1 237 Cyzicus mint* 3rd officina, <b>mid – end 269AD.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>RIC rates this type as C (common) but all S P Q R types are rather scarce. This one belongs to a later phase, after the mint had moved from <b>Smyrna</b> (where this series originated) to <b>Cyzicus</b>. <b><a href="http://www.ric.mom.fr/en/coin/940" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.ric.mom.fr/en/coin/940" rel="nofollow">RIC V Online #940</a> notes 19 specimens for 3rd officina</b>.</p><p><br /></p><p>What&#039;s interesting about this coin is the style of the engraving, most remarkable on the obverse: very small and thin lettering and an overall elegant, detailed style, <b>reminiscent more of the earlier Smyrna-minted types</b>, which might suggest one of two possibilities:</p><p><b>1.</b> either this coin was actually struck at <b>Smyrna</b> before the relocation (difficult to affirm, since the type is generally attributed to <b>Cyzicus</b>)</p><p><b>2.</b> or the dies were carved by a <b>Smyrna-based celator</b> who had moved to the new location of the mint.</p><p><br /></p><p>Also interesting features - very wide flan and wide dies, obverse die being a bit wider, which in itself is quite unusual.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]418195[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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