Postumus, Antoninianus, 261
Trier - Unpublished - Billon - VF(20-25) - RIC:--
Sold
Bust of Postumus, helmeted and radiated, cuirassed, right.
Postumus, helmeted, in military attire, standing left, holding globe in right hand and long spear pointing up in left.
Antoninian of the highest rarity! It appears to be the only known example of this combination of types. On the observe, we see the extremely rare bust of Postumus wearing an helmet and a radiate crown, an engraving that is only found for a very short period, at the beginning of the year 262, apart from one example of a double sestertius struck during the year 261 (no. 77 in RIC V.4, The Gallic Empire). However, we have here an Antoninian. Antoninian coins bearing the reverse with the title for the second consulate ("COS II") were only struck in 261, but always associated with the legend "IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG", as well as a portrait that is only radiated (no. 60 in RIC V.4, The Gallic Empire / RIC V Postumus 54). In the chronology of Postumus's issues, we find aurei with helmeted and only cuirassed portraits struck between the end of 260 and 261, with the legend "VIRTVS POSTVMI AVG" (n°44 to 48 & 50) in RIC V.4, The Gallic Empire), having a resemblance with our portrait here, but not being radiated. Portraits combining the helmet and the radiate crown are found only on double sestertius issued between the end of 260 and the beginning of 262, and the emperor is always draped in addition to being cuirassed on these types (nos. 181, 183 and 185 in RIC V.4, The Gallic Empire). This example is therefore an association that appears to be unpublished and completely new. Several possibilities then open up, perhaps a transitional or emergency obverse die, before the one with the radiated portrait (RIC V Postumus 54), which would have been re-engraved by adding the crown to the helmet, using the dies of the aurei for example. It could also have been the result of a striking trial, but this remains highly uncertain. Finally, it is also possible that this coin was the result of a combination of dies used to produce a contemporary imitation. There are many examples of Antoninian coins with this characteristic. One argument in favour of this is the juxtaposition of the date of the second consulate of Postumus (the year 261), and the appearance in his coinage of the helmeted and radiated portrait (early 262). An imitation could therefore have been struck after 262, using those types of observe and reverse already in circulation.
VIRTVS POSTVMI AVG
P M TR P COS II P P
2.84 gr
Postumus
- Emperor of the Gauls / Roman usurper: AD 260–269
- Period: The Thirty Tyrants
Marcus Cassianus Latinius Postumus’ date of birth is unknown to us and his origins remain a mystery (probably Gaul). Governor of a province in Gaul, he helped the emperor Gallienus to repel Frankish attacks on the borders of the empire. Galvanized by his success, his troops proclaimed him emperor in 260.
However, unlike others before and after him, instead of claiming the entire Roman Empire, he was content to create the Gallic Empire and establish its capital at Cologne. And the Roman Empire was sufficiently unstable so that in the absence of recognizing a certain legitimacy to him, Gallienus granted him a certain peace. While the army made him emperor, it was also the army that assassinated him in 269 following a sedition when he tried to dissuade his troops from looting the city of Mainz.
Economy and currency
Although his reign was partial and its legitimacy altogether relative, Postumus proved relatively active where money was concerned. The emperor of the Gauls was quite Roman in spirit, and so was his currency. Having at his disposal silver mines in Spain and his territory containing two large mints at Cologne and Trier, he issued aurei and Constantinian coins of superior quality to those struck by Rome. This allowed him to curb, for a time at least, the rampant inflation. On the other hand, his double sestertius in bronze was a failure, proving not heavy enough compared to the “simple” sestertius.
Picture: Engraving from the book "Portraits of Roman Emperors" by Giovanni Battista de'Cavalieri (1592)
