RIC V Online 1086

Roman Empire, Claudius II (268-270), Antoninianus, Antioch mint, 4th emission, ? officina.

Obverse: IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind;

Reverse: SAL-VS AVG, Diana standing right, with right hand drawing arrow from quiver and holding bow in left hand, facing Apollo standing left, holding olive branch in right hand and lyre in left hand;

Notes: This coin belongs to the very rare final emission of Claudius II, which consists of eight reverse types all showing a couple of deities together, leading some to speculate that they're meant to represent Zenobia and Vaballathus, and that this issue was struck in the name of Claudius by the Palmyrenes after they had seized Syria in early 270, though the complete absence of officina marks for this issue makes it hard to estabilish a coherent timeline with previous and following issues. Surprisingly, for this emission, the left-facing busts are far more common than the right-facing ones; the D2 ones that dominated the previous emissions are now quite rare.

Référence : RIC V - (c.f. RIC V 219 - unlisted bust type); RIC V Online 1086; Huvelin 1990, 60;

Collection : Claudius II - Antioch