Claudius, contemporary imitation (or uncertain provincial branch mint in Gallia or Hispania ?), 41-54 AD.,
Æ As (23-27 mm / 5,87 g),
Obv.: [TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP ..?] , bare head left.
Rev.: S - C , Minerva advancing right, brandishing spear in right hand, holding round shield in left; clumsy style.
for prototypes cf. Claudius, RIC 100 and 116 ; Alvarez-Burgos, La Moneda Hispanica (1992) 2063 .
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 low weight, portrait and style of both sides of this coin, suggest it may be a contemporary imitation (or struck in a provincial mint?).