Claudius II Gothicus displays of generosity 268AD Ancient Roman Coin i55842

Item: i55842

 Authentic Ancient

Coin of:

Claudius II
Gothicus –
Roman Emperor
: 268-270 A.D.

Bronze Antoninianus 20mm (3.25 grams) Rome mint: 268-270 A.D.
Reference:RIC 57f, C 144
IMPCCLAVDIVSAVG – Radiate, cuirassed bust right.
LIBERALITASAVG – Liberalitas standing left, holding coin counter and cornucopia.

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Authenticity.

The cornucopia (from Latin cornu copiae) or horn of plenty
is a symbol of abundance and nourishment, commonly a large horn-shaped container
overflowing with produce, flowers, nuts, other edibles, or wealth in some form.
Originating in
classical antiquity
, it has continued as a
symbol in
Western art
, and it is particularly associated
with the
Thanksgiving
holiday in
North America
.

Allegorical
depiction of the Roman
goddess
Abundantia
with a cornucopia, by
Rubens
(ca. 1630)

In Mythology

Mythology
offers multiple
explanations of the origin
of the cornucopia.
One of the best-known involves the birth and nurturance of the infant

Zeus, who had to be hidden from his devouring father
Cronus
. In a cave on
Mount Ida
on the island of
Crete
, baby Zeus was cared for and protected by
a number of divine attendants, including the goat
Amalthea
(“Nourishing Goddess”), who fed him
with her milk. The suckling future king of the gods had unusual abilities and
strength, and in playing with his nursemaid accidentally broke off one of her
horns
, which then had the divine power to
provide unending nourishment, as the foster mother had to the god.

In another myth, the cornucopia was created when
Heracles
(Roman
Hercules
) wrestled with the river god
Achelous
and wrenched off one of his horns;
river gods were sometimes depicted as horned. This version is represented in the

Achelous and Hercules

mural painting
by the
American Regionalist
artist
Thomas Hart Benton
.

The cornucopia became the attribute of several
Greek
and
Roman deities
, particularly those associated
with the harvest, prosperity, or spiritual abundance, such as personifications
of Earth (Gaia
or
Terra
); the child
Plutus
, god of riches and son of the grain
goddess Demeter
; the
nymph

Maia
; and
Fortuna
, the goddess of luck, who had the power
to grant prosperity. In
Roman Imperial cult
, abstract Roman deities who
fostered peace (pax
Romana) and prosperity were also depicted with a cornucopia,
including Abundantia
, “Abundance” personified, and
Annona
, goddess of the
grain supply to the city of Rome
.
Pluto
, the classical ruler of the underworld in
the
mystery religions
, was a giver of agricultural,
mineral and spiritual wealth, and in art often holds a cornucopia to distinguish
him from the gloomier Hades
, who holds a
drinking horn
instead.

Modern depictions

In modern depictions, the cornucopia is typically a hollow, horn-shaped
wicker basket filled with various kinds of festive
fruit
and
vegetables
. In North America, the cornucopia
has come to be associated with
Thanksgiving
and the harvest. Cornucopia is
also the name of the annual November Wine and Food celebration in
Whistler
, British Columbia, Canada. Two
cornucopias are seen in the
flag
and
state seal
of
Idaho
. The Great
Seal
of
North Carolina
depicts Liberty standing and
Plenty holding a cornucopia. The coat of arms of
Colombia
,
Panama
,

Peru and
Venezuela
, and the Coat of Arms of the State of
Victoria, Australia
, also feature the
cornucopia, symbolising prosperity.

The horn of plenty is used on body art and at Halloween, as it is a symbol of
fertility, fortune and abundance.

LIBERALITAS – Liberality, being one of the princely virtues and at the same

time a most popular quality, appears both as a legend and as a type on a great

many Roman imperial medals. These attest the occasions when the emperors made a

display of their generosity towards the people by all kinds of distributions

amongst them, in money and provisions. In the earlier age this was called Congiarium (Munus), because they distributed congios oleo plenos. In the time of

the free republic, the Ediles were specially entrusted with these distributions,

as a means of acquiring the good will of the people. The same practice was

followed under the emperors; and we occasionally find on their coins the word

CONGIARIVM, but the more common term is LIBERALITAS, to which is frequently

added the number of times that such liberality has been exercised by each

emperor.

On these occasions of imperial munificence, a certain sum of money was for the

most part given to each person, and when grain was distributed, or bread, to

prevent the evils of dearness and famine from affecting the Roman populace, it

was called Annona. But when something beyond their ordinary pay was bestowed

upon the soldiers, it was denominated Donativum, a word, however, not found on

coins, but comprised under that of Liberalitas, or of Congiarium; and after the

reign of Marcus Aurelius, CONGIARIVM is no longer found, and the expression

LIBERALITAS is alone employed.

Liberality is personified by the image of a woman, holding in one hand a

counting board, or square tablet with a handle on which are cut a certain number

of holes.  These boards were used to quickly count the proper number of coins or

other items for distribution to each person.  It appears they would be dipped

into a container, covered with coins and the excess swept away back into the

container.  The proper number of coins would fill the holes and then would be

dumped out to the recipient.  On coins this symbol indicated the prince had

given to the people money, corn, and other articles of consumption. In the other

hand she holds a cornucopia, to indicate the abundance of wheat contained in the

public granaries. Liberalitas is represented as presiding at all congiaria. The

liberalities of the Augusti, by which the distribution of their bounties to the

people is signified, were of two kinds, ordinary and extraordinary.

Marcus Aurelius Claudius (May

10, 213

– January, 270), often referred to as Claudius Gothicus or Claudius II,

was a Roman Emperor

. He ruled the

Roman

Empire
for less than two years (268 – 270), but during that brief time he

managed to obtain some successes. He was later given divine status.

//

 Life

 Origin

and rise to power

Claudius’ origin is uncertain. He was either from

Sirmium
(Syrmia;

in Pannonia

Inferior) or from Naissus

Dardania

(in

Moesia Superior

); both areas are located in

Serbia
.

Claudius was the commander of the Roman army that decisively defeated the

Goths
at the

Battle of Naissus

in September 268; in the same month, he attained the

throne, amid charges, never proven, that he murdered his predecessor

Gallienus
.

However, he soon proved to be less than bloodthirsty, as he asked the

Roman

Senate
to spare the lives of Gallienus’ family and supporters. He was less

magnanimous toward Rome’s enemies, however, and it was to this that he owed his

popularity.

Claudius, like

Maximinus Thrax

before him, was of barbarian birth. After an interlude of

failed aristocratic Roman emperors since Maximinus’s death, Claudius was the

first in a series of tough soldier-emperors who would eventually restore the

Empire from the

Crisis of the third century

.

 Claudius

as emperor

At the time of his accession, the Roman Empire was in serious danger from

several incursions, both within and outside its borders. The most pressing of

these was an invasion of Illyricum and

Pannonia
by

the Goths
. Not

long after being named emperor (or just prior to Gallienus’ death, depending on

the source), he won his greatest victory, and one of the greatest in the history

of Roman arms.

At the

Battle of Naissus

, Claudius and his legions routed a huge Gothic army.

Together with his cavalry commander, the future Emperor

Aurelian
,

the Romans took thousands of prisoners, destroyed the Gothic cavalry as a force

and stormed their laager (a circular alignment of wagons long favored by the

Goths). The victory earned Claudius his surname of “Gothicus” (conqueror of the

Goths), and that is how he is known to this day. More importantly, the Goths

were soon driven back across the

Danube River

, and a century passed before they again posed a serious threat

to the empire.

While this was going on, the Germanic tribe known as the

Alamanni

had crossed the Alps

and attacked the empire. Claudius responded quickly, routing the Alamanni at the

Battle of Lake Benacus

in the late fall of 268, a few months after the

battle of Naissus. He then turned on the

Gallic Empire

, ruled by a pretender for the past fifteen years and

encompassing

Britain

, Gaul
,

and the

Iberian Peninsula

. He won several victories and soon regained control of

Spain and the Rhone river valley of Gaul. This set the stage for the ultimate

destruction of the Gallic Empire under Aurelian.

However, Claudius did not live long enough to fulfill his goal of reuniting

all the lost territories of the empire. Late in 269 he was preparing to go to

war against the Vandals

, who were raiding in

Pannonia
.

However, he fell victim to the

Plague of Cyprian

(possibly

smallpox
),

and died early in January 270. Before his death, he is thought to have named

Aurelian as his successor, although Claudius’ brother

Quintillus

briefly seized power.

The Senate

immediately deified Claudius as “Divus Claudius Gothicus”.

 Links

to

Constantinian dynasty

The

reports Claudius and Quintillus having another brother

named Crispus and through him a niece. Said niece Claudia reportedly married

Eutropius and was mother to

Constantius Chlorus

. Historians however suspect this account to be a

genealogical

fabrication intended to link

Constantine I

‘s family to that of a well-respected emperor.