Denarius - Clodius Albinus VICT AVG COS II, Victory

Clodius Albinus held the title of Caesar under Septimius Severus from 193 AD — a convenient fiction that kept the British legions loyal while Severus dealt with Pescennius Niger in the east. Once Niger was eliminated, the arrangement became untenable. Albinus declared himself Augustus in 195 and crossed to Gaul with a substantial force, where he controlled Lyon and minted prolifically to pay his troops and legitimize his claim. His defeat at the Battle of Lugdunum in February 197 was decisive; Severus had his body dragged through the streets.

RIC 43C belongs to this Gallic autonomous phase, struck at Lyon.