Ancient Roman Bronze Coin of Emperor Claudius I (Early Roman Empire)

Own a Hoard-Pedigreed Bronze Struck by Spanish Provincials to Fill the Coin Shortage After Caligula's Death

A real unofficial Spanish imitation dupondius of Claudius I — a heavy 16.36 gram bronze struck in Spain to fill an emergency currency gap when Caligula's chaotic reign ended and Claudius took power, recovered from the Pobla de Mafumet hoard. NGC certified.

$346.50

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🌾 Reverse depicts Ceres seated with wheat and torch — the goddess of grain abundance promising provincial prosperity under the new emperor
📜 Obverse bears the rare TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG IMP P M TR P legend — an unusual title order found only on unofficial provincial imitations
📋 Ex Pobla de Mafumet Hoard — references Von Kaenel-1534, BM-139, Glasgow-53 — NGC certified

Own This Piece of History

Why This Coin Matters

When Caligula was assassinated in AD 41, the Roman Empire was thrown into sudden uncertainty. The Praetorian Guard found Claudius hiding behind a curtain in the palace and declared him emperor — but the administrative and monetary machinery of the empire needed time to catch up with the political reality. In the western provinces, particularly Spain, the existing coin supply was insufficient to meet the needs of daily commerce during the transition period. Local authorities and entrepreneurial mints took matters into their own hands.

This heavy 16.36 gram bronze dupondius is an unofficial Spanish imitation — struck not at Rome's imperial mints but by local craftsmen in Spain who recognized the urgent need for circulating bronze currency and produced their own versions of the new emperor's coinage. The rare legend TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG IMP P M TR P — with the imperial titles in an unusual order not found on official Roman issues — is the telltale marker of this provincial initiative, distinguishing it from the standardized output of Rome's own mint.

The reverse Ceres seated with wheat and torch — inscribed CERES AVGVSTA with S C — was a deliberate choice. Ceres, the goddess of grain and agricultural abundance, promised the provincial population that the new emperor's reign would bring the prosperity and stability that Caligula's erratic rule had disrupted. It was reassurance struck in bronze and distributed through local markets. Recovered from the Pobla de Mafumet hoard and referenced precisely as Von Kaenel-1534, BM-139, and Glasgow-53, this is a documented, provenance-verified piece of extraordinary provincial numismatic history. Certified by NGC.

Perfect for:

• Collectors of Roman provincial, Julio-Claudian, and Spanish imitation coinage
• History lovers drawn to Claudius, post-Caligula Rome, and provincial monetary initiative
• Hoard provenance collectors and Von Kaenel reference enthusiasts
• Anyone seeking a rare, documented piece of western Roman provincial emergency coinage

What You'll Receive

• One authentic unofficial Spanish imitation dupondius of Claudius I
• Denomination: Bronze Dupondius (2 asses — substantial provincial bronze)
• Weight: 16.36 grams
• References: Von Kaenel-1534 / BM-139 / Glasgow-53
• Provenance: Ex Pobla de Mafumet Hoard
• Mint: Unofficial Spain — AD 41
• NGC certified for authenticity

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