Claudius, 41-54. Aureus (Gold, 19 mm, 7.80 g, 8 h), Lugdunum, 41-42. TI CLAVD CAESAR•AVG GERM P M TR P Head of Claudius to right, wearing oak wreath. Rev. CONSTANTIAE AVGVSTI Constantia seated left on draped curule chair, feet set on footstool, raising her right hand. BMC 11 corr. (oak not laurel wreath). Calicó 338b corr. (oak not laurel wreath). Cohen 5 corr. (oak not laurel wreath). RIC 13 corr. (oak not laurel wreath). A beautiful example with a bold portrait. Nearly extremely fine.


This type is usually misdescribed as carrying a laureate head on the obverse, but close inspection reveals that Claudius here is clearly wearing a corona civica, a military decoration formed out of oak leaves awarded to soldiers who saved the life of a fellow citizen in battle (see above, lot 1541).