VICTORIAE GOTHIC

Obv: IMP C M AVR CLAVDIVS AVG

Rev: VICTORIAE GOTHIC

In exergue: SPQR

Mint: Cyzicus

Measurements: 5.15g, 23mm

RIC V online 916.

Military busts of Claudius II are very rare and desirable, especially when paired with the historically significant Victoriae Gothic reverse.

Ex: Numismatik Naumann, Auction 82, 06.10.2019, lot 586

On the mintmark SPQR (SENATVS POPVLVSQVE ROMANVS = The Senate and People of Rome)

The early types of the SPQR mintmark (late Gallienus ca. first half of 268 to early Claudius II last few months of 268, perhaps even as late as January 269) were probably struck at Smyrna, while in 269 the operation moved to Cyzicus. For this possible attribution and chronology argues P. Gysen - A propos des ateliers de Smyrne et de Cyzique que sous Claude II le Gothique' CENB 36, no. 2 (1999), pp. 29-41 and J. Mairat - L'ouverture de l'atelier imperial de Cyzique sous le regne de Claude II le Gothique RN (2007), and it is used by Mairat & Estiot on the online version of RIC V. Before that, authors that dealt with Eastern coinage from Gallienus, like K.J.J. Elks - The Eastern Mints of Valerian and Gallienus: The Evidence of Two New Hoards from Western Turkey (NC 15 1975 pp. 91-109), assigned it to Cyzicus (together with many other issues like the VIIC and PXV and 'Asian mint' coins). But from Cyzicus are now known provincial issues for both Gallienus and Claudius II.

Collection : Claudius II