Ancient Coin Stories

Birth of Claudius Gothicus.

Aurelian plays a key role in the assassination of Emperor Gallienus and supports Claudius Gothicus, who becomes the new emperor.

Claudius Gothicus defeats an army of Gauls at the Battle of Naissus.

Gallienus is killed and Claudius Gothicus chosen as emperor by troops outside of Milan.

Claudius Gothicus and Aurelian march against the Alamanni and defeat them at the Battle of Lake Benacus.

Emperor Claudius Gothicus dies of the plague. Aurelian is declared emperor by the army, succeeding Claudius’s brother, Quintillus, who was briefly recognized as emperor but soon dies, possibly by suicide.

Constantine the Great, no longer able to rely on the Maximian family for name, invents that he descended from Claudius Gothicus.