CLAUDIUS. Æ As. Spain mint I (military camp), 41-42 AD.

Obv. TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP Bare head left
Rev. SC Minerva, helmeted and cuirassed, advancing r., hurling javelin and holding shield.

RIC 100; C. - (cf 84)

As Laffranchi showed in 1948, confirmed and somewhat modified by von Kaenel in his monograph on Claudius' coinage and by C. Clay researches, Claudius' bronze coinage in 41 (not yet P P) was produced not only at Rome, but also at other branch mints in the provinces.[from C. Clay]

P.H. Besombes and J.N. Barrandon have identified these official mints as:
- Rome
- Spain I (mint in military camp, Leon region, Astorga), dedicated to the military units in Spain
- Spain II (Tarraco), known from the La Pobla de Mafumet hoard
- Gaul (Lugdunum?)
many unofficial local imitations being made at this time in Gaul (up to 30 to 50% of the Claudius coinage found in significant place)
(Nouvelles propositions de classement des monnaies de « bronze » de Claude Ier, Paul-André Besombes; Jean-Noël Barrandon
Revue Numismatique, 2000).

In particular, coins for Claudius from finds in Mauretania Tingitania were issued mostly from this Spanish mint I (see F.Z. El Harriff, la Circulation monétaire dans le Maroc septentrional. Les monnaies de fouilles de Valentie Banasa (IIIe s. avant J.-C. - début du IVe s. après J.-C)), and this is correlated to the fact that conquering troops were constituted of units stationed in Spain.

Nice natural dark patina. Found in Linares area, near Jaen (Spain).