Claudius II Gothicus, 268-270. Antoninianus (Bronze, 21 mm, 3.46 g, 12 h), Antiochia, 268-269. IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Claudius II to right, seen from behind. Rev. REGI ARTIS Vulcanus standing front, head to right, holding hammer in his right hand and tongs in his left. Cohen 239. RIC 215. RIC V online 1065. Rare and unusually well struck and attractive for this popular issue. Slightly rough and with very minor weakness, otherwise, extremely fine.



This unusually attractive antoninianus of Claudius II, Rome's successful general who contracted the plague and died while battling the empire’s enemies, depicts on the reverse the figure of Vulcanus, the fire god and blacksmith. He is shown holding his hammer and tongs, and wearing a pileus on his head. Like the Greek god Hephaistos, with whom he is equated, Vulcanus is the god of the 'kingly art' of crafting weapons for war, as symbolized by the hammer and tongs and identified by the accompanying legend REGI ARTIS. These coins of Claudius II, featuring Vulcanus on the reverse, are the last Roman coins to depict the god.