AE Antoninianus, A.D. 269-270, Antioch, 20.5mm, 3.36g, 180°, RIC Vi 207
Obv: IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG. Radiate, draped bust right.
Rev: FIDES AVG. Mercury standing left, holding purse and caduceus; Z in ex.
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Marcus Aurelius Valerius Claudius Augustus, commonly known as Claudius II or Claudius Gothicus, was Roman Emperor from 268 to 270. Claudius had served with the Roman army for all his adult life, making his way up the military hierarchy until the Emperor Gallienus made him the commander of his elite cavalry force. In September 268 he found himself assigned as a military tribune with the emperor, besieging the usurper Aureolus in Milan. Gallienus was killed during this conflict and the troops proclaimed Claudius emperor amid charges, never proven, that he murdered his predecessor.

At the time of his accession, the Roman Empire was in serious danger from several incursions, both within and outside its borders. Shortly after being named emperor, Claudius 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 and destroyed the Gothic cavalry. The victory earned Claudius his surname of "Gothicus" (conqueror of the Goths). More importantly, this set the stage for the Goths to be driven back across the Danube River by Aurelian, and nearly a century passed before they again posed a serious threat to the empire.

Late in 269 Claudius had travelled to Sirmium and 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".