{"product_id":"514806-coin-postumus-antoninianus-ad-261-trier-or-cologne-ef-40-45-billon","title":"Postumus, Antoninianus, 261, Trier, Unpublished, Billon, VF(20-25), RIC:--","description":"\u003cp id=\"head\"\u003eBust of Postumus, helmeted and radiated, cuirassed, right.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp id=\"reverse\"\u003ePostumus, helmeted, in military attire, standing left, holding globe in right hand and long spear pointing up in left.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp id=\"comment\"\u003eAntoninian 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). \r\nIn 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 \u0026amp; 50) in RIC V.4, The Gallic Empire), having a resemblance with our portrait here, but not being radiated. \r\nPortraits 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(nos. 181, 183 and 185 in RIC V.4, The Gallic Empire).\r\nThis example is therefore an association that appears to be unpublished and completely new. \r\nSeveral 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. \r\nIt could also have been the result of a striking trial, but this remains highly uncertain. \r\nFinally, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp id=\"headCaption\"\u003eVIRTVS POSTVMI AVG\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp id=\"reverseCaption\"\u003eP M TR P COS II P P\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp id=\"weight\"\u003e2.84 gr\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"cdma","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43478849224933,"sku":"514806","price":3190.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0637\/1655\/7029\/files\/514806A_5f6a9f53-eac9-431d-b87d-06ea8a65734f.jpg?v=1722425911","url":"https:\/\/www.numiscorner.com\/products\/514806-coin-postumus-antoninianus-ad-261-trier-or-cologne-ef-40-45-billon","provider":"Numiscorner.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}