★ Commemorating the conquest of Britain! ★

Claudius, AD 41-54. Aureus (Gold, 19 mm, 7.80 g, 11 h), on the Roman triumphs in Britain, Lugdunum, 46-47. TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG•P M•TR•P•VI IMP•XI Laureate head of Claudius to right. Rev. Triumphal arch with, on the architrave, an equestrian statue of Claudius to left between two trophies; on the architrave, DE BRITANN. Bauten 143. BMC 32. BN 54. B&S 32/5. Calico 349. Cohen 17. Hill 78. RIC 33. Historically important! With a bold portrait struck in high relief. Mounting marks, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

Ex Naumann 106, 1 August 2021, 489 and Auctiones 24, 23-24 June 1994, 460.

This interesting and attractive coin commemorates the invasion and conquest of Britain under Claudius. Begun in 43, much of southern Britain was swiftly overrun: the Senate granted Claudius a triumph and decreed that one of the arches of the Aqua Virgo be modified to make it a triumphal arch in his honor. This arch was only finished in 52, so what we see on this coin is what might be termed an architect’s model.