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Denarius - Claudius EX SC OB CIVES SERVATOS
| Issuer | Roman Imperial Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 41-42 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Reverse description | Within a large, open oak wreath (corona civica) tied at the base with a decorative knot, the reverse field carries a three-line inscription in bold, well-spaced Latin capitals: EX S C / OB CIVES / SERVATOS. The oak wreath, a symbol of the corona civica awarded to rulers who saved Roman citizens, is rendered with individual leaves and berries visible along its branches. A single pellet appears at the apex of the wreath above the legend. The composition is austere and typographically focused, with no additional subsidiary devices in the field, conveying the honorific message with deliberate clarity. |
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| Reverse lettering | EX SC OB CIVES SERVATOS (Translation: Ex Senatus Consultum. Ob Cives Servatos. By decree of the senate. For saving the citizens.) |
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| Additional information |
Claudius struck these coins in the opening months of his reign, following his acclamation by the Praetorian Guard after Caligula's assassination in January 41 AD. The EX SC OB CIVES SERVATOS reverse — "by decree of the Senate, for saving the citizens" — was a deliberate piece of political theatre. Claudius needed legitimacy he had not earned militarily, and framing the end of Caligula's terror as a civic rescue was one way to manufacture it.
The Senate's role here is telling. RIC I#6 is one of several early types where Claudius conspicuously invoked senatorial authority, a posture he largely abandoned once the invasion of Britain in 43 AD gave him genuine military credentials.