41-54 AD., Claudius, provincial branch mint, As, cf. RIC 100 and 116.

Claudius, uncertain provincial branch mint (in Britannia, Gallia or Hispania ?), 41-54 AD.,
Æ As (27-30 mm / 13,10 g),
Obv.: [TI CLAVDI]VS CAESAR AVG P M TR P I[MP?] , bare head left, strange portrait.
Rev.: S - C , Minerva advancing right, brandishing spear in right hand, holding round shield in left.
for prototypes cf. Claudius, RIC 100 and 116 .

In an attempt to meet the needs of local demand, Claudius' aes coinage was heavily imitated throughout the provinces. Because many of the die engravers making these imitations were highly skilled artisans, style is most often the only key to distinguishing between an imitative and an imperial issue. The portrait and style of both sides of this coin, suggest it may be struck in a provincial mint.