RIC V Online 46

Roman Empire, Claudius II (268-270), Antoninianus, Mediolanum mint, 2nd emission, 3rd officina.

Obverse: IMP CLAVDIVS P F AVG, radiate bust left, wearing trabea, holding Victory on globe in right hand and scipio in left hand;

Reverse: PA-X A-VG, Pax running left, holding olive branch in right hand and transverse sceptre in left hand, T in exergue;

Notes: The antoniniani of Claudius II with a consular bust are extremely rare, with only ten known examples overall: six from the second officina (one with AEQVITAS AVG and five with FIDES MILIT) and four from the third one (all with PAX AVG). They were only struck at Milan, since this had been the first mint to use them on circulating coinage, during the sole reign of Gallienus, and only during the second emission, since Claudius was consul only in 269. These coins were struck using only two dies, one for each officina, but they show different bust types: while RIC V Online had access to many examples of the bust used by the second one, with a K7l bust with nothing on the globe, they only had access to a very damaged example, in the Vienna museum, of the variant of the third officina, and so they listed it under the same code. My example, however, together with another one sold on Ebay a couple of years ago, shows that it is actually a new type where the globe is surmounted by Victory holding a wreath. This coin is a wonderful and historically significant piece of third century art, as well as a testimony to the great level of artistic development reached by Milan in comparison with the other mints, as it features a very realistic portrait combined with an incredibly detailed trabea and accessories.

Référence : RIC V - (c.f. RIC V 157 - unlisted bust type); RIC V Online 46; Huvelin 1980, 10; Toffanin 311/4;

Collection : Claudius II - Mediolanum