thenickelguy Posted June 17, 2022 · Member Share Posted June 17, 2022 AE Antoninianus, Rome Mint. With a sea green patina. Obverse: IMP CLAVDIVS AVG, Radiate head of Claudius right. Reverse: LAETITIA AVG, Laetitia standing left holding wreath and anchor. Claudius II was a tough guy from what I gather but many stories about him may have been exaggerated. Laetitia was a minor Roman goddess of fertility. Her name was used to mean happiness with prosperity and abundance. She is shown with an anchor, as a representation of stability Word of the day Antoninianus The name given in modern times to a Roman coin thought to be twice the value of a denarius. Originally a silver coin. The amount of silver in the mix dropped drastically over the years, and later antoniniani were hard to tell from copper or bronze. 10 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Collector Posted June 17, 2022 · Patron Share Posted June 17, 2022 Nice one! You sure are having fun, @thenickelguy! Here's my favorite Laetitia! Faustina II, AD 147-175. Roman orichalcum sestertius, 24.80 g, 32.6 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 161-164. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right, wearing stephane. Rev: LAETITIA S C, Laetitia standing left, holding wreath and scepter. Refs: RIC 1653; BMCRE 928; Cohen 150; RCV 5279 var. (bust); MIR 21-6/10b diad. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Octavius Posted June 17, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted June 17, 2022 Two Antoniniani of Claudius Gothicus - the first with reverse of Victoriae Gothic(ae) - hence his honorific title "Gothicus". second , with Mars reverse ( with an exceptionally large butt!). 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor Steve Posted June 17, 2022 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted June 17, 2022 (edited) atta-boy, the nickelguy => keep 'em coming!! Ummm, I had a fairly weak example of Claudius Gothicus (Claudius-II) ... oh, but it was still super-cool!! => wanna see it? Claudius II Gothicus (below) AE Antoninianus Obverse: IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate and draped bust right Reverse: LIBERT AVG, Libertas standing left Weight: 3.2 g Diameter: 18 mm Reference: RIC VI 62 Rome Fun-Fact: This was one of my first two ancient coins (at that time I wasn't even sure if any of them were even real, right? ... it seems so amazing that we can own such old coins!! ... so fricken cool) Edited June 17, 2022 by Steve 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orange Julius Posted June 17, 2022 · Member Share Posted June 17, 2022 (edited) 6 hours ago, thenickelguy said: AE Antoninianus, Rome Mint. With a sea green patina. Obverse: IMP CLAVDIVS AVG, Radiate head of Claudius right. Reverse: LAETITIA AVG, Laetitia standing left holding wreath and anchor. Claudius II was a tough guy from what I gather but many stories about him may have been exaggerated. Laetitia was a minor Roman goddess of fertility. Her name was used to mean happiness with prosperity and abundance. She is shown with an anchor, as a representation of stability Word of the day Antoninianus The name given in modern times to a Roman coin thought to be twice the value of a denarius. Originally a silver coin. The amount of silver in the mix dropped drastically over the years, and later antoniniani were hard to tell from copper or bronze. You know what’s really cool about that coin that nobody has noticed? Look at that obverse legend again, it’s not IMP CLAVDIVS AVG. The legend actually appears to be DIVO CLAVDIO! Whether official or an imitation I’m not sure and haven’t looked into but this coin was minted after Claudius’ death. I’d look into DIVO CLAVDIO coins with an LAETITIA AVG reverse and see what you find. The bust looks official enough to me… so maybe a DIVO C obverse paired with a Quintillus reverse? Edit.. addition: http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.5.cg.277 Edited June 17, 2022 by Orange Julius 4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry G Posted June 17, 2022 · Member Share Posted June 17, 2022 1 hour ago, Orange Julius said: You know what’s really cool about that coin that nobody has noticed? Look at that obverse legend again, it’s not IMP CLAVDIVS AVG. The legend actually appears to be DIVO CLAVDIO! Whether official or an imitation I’m not sure and haven’t looked into but this coin was minted after Claudius’ death. I’d look into DIVO CLAVDIO coins with an LAETITIA AVG reverse and see what you find. The bust looks official enough to me… so maybe a DIVO C obverse paired with a Quintillus reverse? Edit.. addition: http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.5.cg.277 I noticed that too :D. Nice find @thenickelguy! Here are a few of my DIVO CLAVDIO coins with lifetime reverses (including a LAETITIA AVG example like the OP coin) LAETITIA AVG FELICITAS AVG PAX AVGVSTI SECVRIT AVG 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenickelguy Posted June 17, 2022 · Member Author Share Posted June 17, 2022 (edited) DIVO CLAVDIO added to my new file. You guys . . . AE Antoninianus, Rome Mint. With a sea green patina. Obverse: DIVO CLAVDIO, Radiate head of Claudius right. Reverse: LAETITIA AVG, Laetitia standing left holding wreath and anchor. I think I have a posthumous Antoninianus of Claudius Gothicus which may change the date struck too? Edited June 17, 2022 by thenickelguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenickelguy Posted June 17, 2022 · Member Author Share Posted June 17, 2022 (edited) Took better pictures today (I think) I do believe I found this on Wildwinds listed as such and maybe struck in 277 AD? https://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/claudius_II/i.html Divus Claudius II, mule with lifetime reverse Claudius II AE Antoninianus, commemorative issue. Rome, 277 AD. DIVO CLAVDIO, radiate head right / LAETITIA AVG, Laetitia standing left holding wreath and anchor. RIC V-1 Rome 277. or should that read RIC 277 Volume 1 Rome Mint Edited June 17, 2022 by thenickelguy 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orange Julius Posted June 17, 2022 · Member Share Posted June 17, 2022 2 hours ago, thenickelguy said: RIC V-1 Rome 277. I don’t think it matters too much the order… Rome, RIC V-1 277. I just notice you have 277 also listed as the mint date too. I think these coins had to be minted in 270 or not long after. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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