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Bronze Antoninianus - Æ 20-21 mm - 4 grams - Die axis 12:00 - RIC (Cyzicus) 252var - Struck AD 269-270.
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[IMP C]LAVDIVS [P]F AVG (Imperator Claudius Pius Felix (Pious and Blessed) Augustus).
Bearded emperor, draped and cuirassed, wearing the radiate crown, facing right. There are probably dots under the bust (Officina marks). |
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VICT[ORI]A-E - GOTHIC (Victoriae Gothicae - Victory over the Goths).
Two captives, sitting, hands bound at their back, facing outward. Sitting under a trophy consisting of a helmet, crossed spears, 2 round shields, a cuirass and crossed swords. |
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Claudius was the commander of the Roman army that defeated decisively the Goths at the battle of Naissus, in September 268. In the same month, he attained the throne, amid never proven charges that he murdered his predecessor Gallienus. There is a letter existent of the emperor to Junius Brocchus, then in command of Illyricum :
"From Claudius to Brocchus. We have destroyed three hundred and twenty thousand Goths, we have sunk two thousand ships. The rivers are covered over with their shields, all the banks are buried under their swords and their spears. The fields are hidden beneath their bones, no road is clear, their mighty wagon-train has been abandoned. We have captured so many women that the victorious soldiers can take for themselves two or three apiece." ...
Minted in Cyzicus.
Obv. : Good but worn - Rev. : What there is, is o.k..
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