Nouvelles propositions de classement des monnaies de « bronze » de Claude Ier

Summary. — The profusion of bronze coins minted under Claudius has long puzzled historians and numismatists. The great stylistic variety of coins of this type would appear to preclude any satisfactory classification. On the basis of the material uncovered in Armorie ford deposits at Saint-Léonard (Jublains, Mayenne) and in Vilaine (Rennes, Ille-et- Vilaine), we here propose a new method of classification with the strict division of official and imitation coins. Various Methods of elementary analysis are used to confirm the accuracy of categories obtained by other criteria (style, epigraphy, flan shape, die axis and the geographic distribution of discoveries). The results appear to show that, concurrent with purely local striking (illicit mints) and the output of the official mint in Rome, several official mints located in Gaul and the Iberian peninsula were the source of an abundant supply of copper and brass coins issued over a short period of time.Besombes Paul-André, Barrandon Jean-Noël. Nouvelles propositions de classement des monnaies de « bronze » de Claude Ier. In: Revue numismatique, 6e série - Tome 155, année 2000 pp. 161-188