Roman Imperial
Claudius (41-54), As 50-54, Rome mint
Obverse: bare head left
TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P
Reverse: draped figure of Libertas standing facing, head to right, holding pileus in right hand and with left outstretched, SC across fields
LIBERTAS AVGVSTA
Weight 11.6 g
During the rule of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, large demand for lower denominations, i.e. bronze coins, was covered not only by the central mint in Rome, formally controlled by the senate (SC - Senatus Constulto), but also, although to a lesser extent, the mint in Lugdunum under the Emperor's responsibility. The abundant production of the Roman mint under Claudius included relatively few types, so the As with Libertas on the reverse, though alluding to the restoration of freedom by the accession of Claudius after his cruel and mad nephew, Caligula, in AD 41, dates fairly widely to the first 9 years of the Emperor's rule.
