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.

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Abstract. — Based on the information provided by metallographic analyses we shall try of this paper to place the dupondii of Nîmes in their historical perspective, beginning with their introduction during the period of civil wars. The analyses reveal variations in the alloy and ore used in the coins, and this as well as other numismatic considerations suggest a certain modification in the classification of the three Nîmes series and in the dating of Nîmes III.

Une fouille en bordure des thermes de Jublains (Mayenne) : enfin un dodécaèdre en contexte archéologique ! Excavation near the ancient baths of Jublains (Mayenne): at last a dodecahedron in archaeological context! Gérard Guillier* et Richard Delage** avec la collaboration de Paul-André Besombes*** Résumé : L'antique Nouiodunum (Jublains), capitale de cité des Diablintes, est une ville de plan orthonormé dont la parure monumentale, ainsi que quelques secteurs d'habitat et d'artisanat, sont relativement bien connus. En 1995, une intervention archéologique d'une centaine de mètres carrés a porté sur un îlot encore peu exploré du coeur de la ville. La rue antique n° 8 et ses abords ont été fouillés, conirmant notamment la période d'installation de la trame viaire, avant le règne de Flavius. La mise au jour d'un petit bâtiment sur cave, incendié à la charnière des ii e et iii e siècles constitue une découverte remarquable, puisque les mobiliers recueillis montrent qu'il ne s'agit pas d'un simple habitat mais plutôt d'un lieu à vocation commerciale, peut-être spécialisé dans le négoce de denrées précieuses. Dans cette structure furent tout particulièrement recueillis un trébuchet et un dodécaèdre en bronze, objet énigmatique s'il en est dont les interprétations oscillent entre fonctions utilitaires et instrument de divination.

Summary. - The monetary mirrors of Nero were first studied by W. Froehner in 1889. Since then, many other examples of this type have been discovered. Here, we are dealing with circular mirrors, bearing in their center and on both their valves, either a veritable « dupondius » or « sestertius » of Nero or a moulded reproduction or cast from one of the emperor's coins. That this tendancy should appear under Nero's reign and that no other specimens of this type were reproduced under his successors has not yet been elucidated. In this context, we are attempting to throw light on this subject wich, on our opinion, can be related to religious politics under the last of the Julio-Claudians.