Claudius Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus (10 BC - AD 41 - 54)
'Minerva' Coin 1.a
1. Front	2. Back
Bronze As - Æ 25-26 mm - 10 grams - Die axis 06:00. 1. [TI CLAVD]IVSCAESA[R AVG] PM T[R P IMP PP (Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Tribunicia Potestate Imperator Pater Patriae - T.C. Caesar Augustus, Holder of the Tribunician Power, Imperator, Father of the Country). Bare bust of emperor facing left. 2. SC (Senatus Consulto - By decree of the Senate). Minerva standing facing right, legs wide. Brandishing spear with right arm, ready to throw and holding shield on left arm. On some coins clothed in a Tunica. Due to limited minting of bronze coinage at this time, many semi-official issues were produced, probably by the army, especially of the Minerva type. These were not considered forgeries and were treated as legal tender. I must say that, though everyone seems to say this is Minerva, this coin does not seem like a fighting woman to me. To my simple eyes it more looks like a fighting soldier, thus Mars, possibly fighting (semi) undressed. But relax it really is Minerva. Minerva is originally the Godess of Arts and Crafts but became associated with Athena's warlike image. Obv. : Worn, LP - Rev. : Very worn, LP.

'Minerva' Coin 1.b
1. Front	2. Back
Bronze As - Æ 24-26 mm - 8 grams - Die axis 06:00 - RIC 100 (AD 41-42), without PP : RIC 116 (AD 50-54). 1. [TI CLA]VDIVSCAESAR AVG [PM TRP IMP PP] (Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Tribunicia Potestate Imperator Pater Patriae - T.C. Caesar Augustus, Holder of the Tribunician Power, Imperator, Father of the Country). Uncrowned bare bust of emperor facing left. 2. SC (enatus Consulto - Issued with Consent of the Senate). Minerva standing facing right, legs wide. Brandishing spear with right arm, ready to throw and holding shield on left arm. On some coins clothed in a Tunica. During times in Claudius' reign there was an extreme shortage of bronze coinage in Britain and Gaul. And thus huge numbers of imitations of Claudius' common bronze coins were created, as of thus type. Got this coin in a 'xtremely cheap lot as a total crustie. Took me ages and a lot of tumbling (put coin in plastic bottle & olive oil, tape well and tumble in the dryer), before getting this far. It could well take me unto my retirement to get this thick layer off. On this coin: Stylishly seen this coin may be an imitation. Obv. : Very worn, LP - Rev. : Very worn, LP Note on Both Coins : On both coins RIC 100 (AD 41-42) if without PP and RIC 116 (AD 50-54) if incl PP on obverse. Sears dates exactly to AD 42. Current theories date all Claudius' bronzes to the start of his reign, with quite a gap untill resuming around Nero's start. Personally I think this would make Clau ... Clau ... Claudius quite the administrator he was purported to be ...