The antoninianus was a new domination of silver coin that was introduced amidst the financial crises that gripped the Roman Empire in the early third century. Over the course of time it was debased until it was mostly bronze. As you can see by the mixed patinas of the eight antoniniani issued under the authority of Claudius at the top of this post, the metal content varied.

The common obverse features a radiate bust of the Emperor and Roman Imperial Coinage lists dozens of reverse types. The example above (RIC 168) was minted in Mediolanum (Milan) and its reverse features Spes, the personification of hope, holding a flower.

To read the complete article, see:
EIGHT ANTONINIANI OF CLAUDIUS GOTHICUS, 268-270 CE (www.anspocketchange.org/eight-antoniniani-of-claudius-gothicus-268-270-ce/)