Pescennius Niger, Denarius, 193-194
Antioch - Silver - AU(55-58) - RIC:88b
PLEASE NOTE: this collector's item is unique. We therefore cannot guarantee its availability over time and recommend that you do not delay too long in completing your purchase if you are interested.
Head of Pescennius Niger, laureate, right.
Victory, winged, draped, advancing left, holding wreath in extended right hand and palm sloped over left shoulder in left hand.
Specimen of the highest rarity. Pescennius Niger was a Roman usurper between the spring of 193 and 194. He took the purple following an uprising by the Eastern legions, who chose him as their emperor after refusing to accept the auction of the title of emperor by Rome's praetorian guard. According to the History of Augustus, he seems to have been legate of the province, which explains the acclamation by the legions. Other legions on the African and Syrian limes ("frontiers") then rallied around him, and he even managed to join forces with the Parthian and Armenian kings. However, he had to face Septimius Severus, who had arrived from Rome with the aim of securing total control of the empire. He was defeated in the East and tried to take refuge with the Parthians, but was caught and executed as he fled. His reign was very short, and his coins are extremely rare, especially in this state of preservation. They were all struck in the East, in Antioch, as he stayed in this part of the empire. RIC IV Pescennius Niger 88b.
IMP CAES C PES NIGER IVS AV
VICTORIAE AVG
2.6 gr
Silver
Silver can fall into your pocket but also falls between copper and gold in group 11 of the periodic table. Three metals frequently used to mint coins. There are two good reasons for using silver: it is a precious metal and oxidizes little upon contact with air. Two advantages not to be taken for granted.
Here is thus a metal that won’t vanish into thin air.
It’s chemical symbol Ag is derived from the Latin word for silver (argentum), compare Ancient Greek ἄργυρος (árgyros). Silver has a white, shiny appearance and, to add a little bit of esotericism or polytheism to the mix, is traditionally dedicated to the Moon or the goddess Artemis (Diana to the Romans).
As a precious metal, just like gold, silver is used to mint coins with an intrinsic value, meaning their value is constituted by the material of which they are made. It should be noted that small quantities of other metals are frequently added to silver to make it harder, as it is naturally very malleable (you can’t have everything) and thus wears away rapidly.
The first silver coins probably date back to the end of the 7th century BC and were struck on the Greek island of Aegina. These little beauties can be recognized by the turtle featured on the reverse.
The patina of silver ranges from gray to black.
The millesimal fineness (or alloy) of a coin indicates the exact proportion (in parts per thousand) of silver included in the composition. We thus speak, for example, of 999‰ silver or 999 parts of silver per 1 part of other metals. This measure is important for investment coins such as bullion. In France, it was expressed in carats until 1995.
An “AU(55-58)” quality
As in numismatics, it is important that the state of conservation of an item be carefully evaluated before it is offered to a discerning collector with a keen eye.
This initially obscure acronym comprising two words describing the state of conservation is explained clearly here:
About Uncirculated(55-58)
This means – more prosaically – that the coin has been in circulation but sufficiently little that its original beauty is preserved almost in its entirety. The wear is barely visible and any other defect can only be identified with a magnifying glass or a particularly keen eye. The number (55-58) indicates that between three quarters and almost all of the original luster remains.
