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Bronze Antoninianus - Æ 20 mm - 4 grams - Die axis 11:30 - RIC 187 (corr) / Normanby 1031 - Struck in or after AD 270.
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IMP CLAVDIVS PF AVG (Imperator Claudius Pius Felix Augustus - Imperator C. the Pious, Blessed Augustustus) Bearded emperor facing right, draped and wearing the radiate crown. Seems like a hint of his cuirass can be seen. |
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PA-X A-vG (Pax Augustus - Augustal Peace).
Pax, in Stola, wearing headdress, advancing leftwards, holding wreath in right hand and scepter (or ceremonial spear ?) in left arm.
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It seems the only mint to use T in the exergue was Mediolanum (Milan, Italy) where P=1, S=2 and T=3.
Rome used a Gamma for 3 and Siscia mostly had 2 officinae only, expanding to four later but when it
had four the letter T was only placed in the fields.
Marcus Aurelius Valerius Claudius was born on 10 May AD 214 in the region of Dardania which was
either a part of the province of Illyricum or Upper Moesia. Claudius seems to have been among the
leaders of the conspiracy against Gallienus. At the time he was based close by at Ticinum.
The main reason for Claudius to be chosen over the other only serious contender was most likely
Aurelian's reputation as a strict disciplinarian. This mildness of Claudius II showed itself
immediately after Gallienus' death when he asked Rome for restraint in their murder spree on
Gallienus' hated in-crowd. Claudius then continued the siege of Mediolanum (Milan) and soon had
rebel Aureolus on his knees (and without head).
He was given the title Gothicus for (a.o.) the battle of Lake Benacus (Lake Garda). Here Claudius
II met Alamanni in battle in late autumn AD 268, inflicting such a crushing defeat that only half
their number managed to escape the battlefield alive.
Under Claudius II Gothicus the tide was turning back in Rome's favour against the barbarians. Was
Claudius II Gothicus' performance against the northern barbarians a particular success, he simply
could not yet afford to deal with the emerging eastern menace of queen Zenobia of Palmyra.
Whilst making preparations for a campaign against the Jutes a plague broke out in his camp to which
he succumbed in AD 270. He was immediately deified.
Obv. : Good but worn - Rev. : Good but worn - Rim dented and cut.
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