THE COLLECTION
RESOURCES
THE MILITARY ANARCHY
DIDIUS JULIANUS
28 March-1 June AD 193

                AR Denarius (2.78 g, 18mm, 7).
      Mint: Rome.
      Struck: Uncertain.
      Obv: IMP CAES M DID IVLIAN AVG
                Laureate head right.
      Rev: CONCORD MILIT
                Concordia standing left, holding aquila and signum.
      Mm: None.
      Ref: RIC 1; BMCRE 2; Hunter -; RSC 2.

Notes: This reverse type reflects the appeal of Didius to the armies within the provinces to follow the lead of the Praetorians in collectively supporting him as emperor. Concordia on this type, vice Fides, is an overt representation of the joint will of the empire's army, thus clearly defining this interpretation. It was an appeal that was certain to come, but under futile circumstances; the will of the provincial armies had already proclaimed for alternates. This early appearance in an emperor's coinage at the time was rather unconventional, thus also reflective of the urgency of the message. It was one that would become common in the earliest issues of the third century military emperors, whose immediate power was directly relative to the support of the legions.

SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
AD 193-211

                AR Denarius (2.95 g, 20mm, 6).
      Mint: Rome.
      Struck: AD 211.
      Obv: SEVERVS PIVS AVG BRIT
                Laureate head right.
      Rev: FORT RED P M TR P XIX
                COS III P P in exergue
                Fortuna seated left, holding rudder and
                cornucopia; wheel below chair.
      Mm: None.
      Ref: RIC 246; BMCRE 109; Hunter -; RSC 154.

Notes: In AD 208, Septimius and his sons began a long campaign in Britain to secure the border against the tribes in Scotland. The campaigns lasted into AD 210, and focused on the Caledonians, with the legions droving far into the north. Successes were short-lived, however, and the Romans realized they could not abate the tribes by raiding their territories. As a result, the decision was made to reinforce the defenses along the Hadrian Wall. While operations were winding down, in February AD 211, Septimius, now aged 66 and of poor health, fell ill and died at his headquarters at York.

This coin, among his rarest, is from the final year of Septimius' reign, and has the traditional symbol of hope for the emperor's return when he is away from Rome--Fortuna Redux. The appearance of this personification is new to this issue, and suggests that the Romans expected the emperor to begin his voyage home during that year. Interestingly the final issues of other emperors who died while away on campaign also featured this same reverse type: Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, and Lucius Verus.

CARACALLA
As Caesar, AD 196-198

                AR Denarius (3.54 g, 17mm, 12).
      Mint: Rome.
      Struck: AD 196.
      Obv: [M A]VR ANTONI-NVS CAES
                Bare-headed, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
      Rev: SPEI PERPETVAE
                Spes advancing left, holding flower and hem of skirt.
      Mm: None.
      Ref: RIC 5; RSC 594.

Notes:

As Augustus, AD 198-217

                AR Denarius (2.91 g, 19mm, 6).
      Mint: Rome.
      Struck: AD 217.
      Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM
                Laureate head right.
      Rev: VIC PART P M TR P XX COS IIII P P
                Caracalla, holding globe and scepter, standing left,
                crowned by Victory, holding palm, who stands left
                behind him; at his feet, bound captive seated left.
      Mm: None.
      Ref: RIC 299e; RSC 655.

Notes:

GETA
AD 209-212

                AR Denarius (2.95 g, 20mm, 6).
      Mint: Rome.
      Struck: AD 209.
      Obv: IMP CAES P SEPT GETA PIVS AVG
                Laureate head right.
      Rev: PONTIF TR P COS II
                Genius standing left, sacrificing out of patera over
                lighted altar and holding corn ears.
      Mm: None.
      Ref: RIC 67; BMCRE 15; Hunter -; RSC 129.

Notes: This coin type is from the short first issue of Geta's coinage as Augustus, and is the sole type used for his denarii of this emission. About a month after this issue, Geta's titulature advanced to TR P II, synchronizing his tribunician date with his father and brother.

ELAGABALUS
AD 218-222

                AR Denarius (3.02 g, 21mm, 6).
      Mint: Rome.
      Struck: AD 218.
      Obv: IMP CAES M AVR ANTONINVS AVG
                Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
      Rev: PONTIF MAX TR P
                Roma seated left, holding Victory and scepter; shield below.
      Mm: None.
      Ref: RIC 8; Thirion 3; BMCRE 1; Hunter 1; RSC 222a.

Notes: This coin is the sole dated type in the initial issue of Elagabalus' reign. The choice of Roma Victrix is significant, as Mattingly pointed out in BMCRE: Macrinus had neglected Rome and the Senate, choosing to stay in the field with the army. This reverse sought to affirm the importance and glory that the new regime was going to return to the imperial city. It was a shrewd statement certainly attributable to his wise grandmother, Julia Maesa. His family was part of the great Severan house, and Elagabalus spent much of his tender years in the company of the emperors Septimius and Caracalla. When the disaffected Syrian legions revolted against Macrinus (through the scheming of his mother and grandmother), the troops proclaimed Elagabalus emperor. Promoted as the bastard son of Caracalla, upon acclamation they also gave him that emperor's names, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. Not only are these new names visible in his coin legends, the portrait of Elagabalus' first issue also assimilates the features of the youthful Caracalla. Thus, this first issue is an excellent display of the careful political engineering that was necessary to promote a new regime in the early 3rd century.

                AR Denarius (3.34 g, 18mm, 6).
      Mint: Rome.
      Struck: January-March, AD 222.
      Obv: IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG
                Laureate and draped bust right.
      Rev: P M TR P V COS IIII P P
                Elagabalus standing left, sacrificing out of patera over
                lighted altar and holding club; star to left.
      Mm: None.
      Ref: RIC 52; Thirion 225; BMCRE 268; Hunter -; RSC 213a.

Notes: This coin type was issued in the final emission of coinage under Elagabalus, minted from January - March 222. During the previous year, a "horn" was added to Elagabalus' portrait, commonly believed to be a mark indicating divine status. The emperor's megalomania had grown to such proportions that such an unconventional symbol was directed to be added to his portrait. During this last issue, though, the "horn" disappeared from the coinage, and it is theorized that the public became so reviled by his acts that the controversial symbol was removed by mint officials. Such a scenario is unlikely, though, with the strict control exercised over the imperial mint; such an act would only have been possible shortly prior to his death but such conditions would probably preempt any new minting. It is more likely that the popular unrest provoked a sudden attempt by the regime to reform its image, one act of which would obviously be the removal of the horn. Such an act would also have been likely to occur shortly before Elagabalus' overthrow, which would support the rarity of these "hornless" issues.

SEVERUS ALEXANDER
AD 222-235

                AR Denarius (3.61 g, 21mm, 6).
      Mint: Rome.
      Struck: 18th emission, January - February/March AD 235.
      Obv: IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG
                Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
      Rev: P M TR P XIIII COS III P P
                Sol, radiate, standing left, raising right hand, holding
                whip in left hand.
      Mm: None.
      Ref: RIC 125 var. (no cuirass); BMCRE 962; Hunter -; RSC 453a.

Notes: This coin was struck in the last months of Alexander's reign, and is the sole dated type among those of his last issue. Alexander was assassinated by his soldiers (under Maximinus I) while campaigning along the Rhine frontier. He is said to have been killed while cowering in the arms of his domineering mother, Julia Mamaea, who was also murdered. His final portraits are a stark contrast to his earliest, childlike portraits that were produced upon his accession in AD 222 at the age of 13 or 14. (His youth is also visible on a few of his issues as Caesar under Elegabalus, but typically these more resemble the depraved emperor.) Although he is typically depicted on the coins as a military emperor with an idealized countenance, in reality he detested warfare, which was a major fault in the turbulent third century. Also, he was constantly under the dominance of other, more powerful personalities, particularly his mother. Eventually, his weak leadership proved fatal, and he became one of many emperors murdered on campaign by his own soldiers.

MAXIMINUS I
AD 235-238

                AR Denarius (2.62 g, 20mm, 11).
      Mint: Rome, 6th officina.
      Struck: 6th emission, Dec. AD 237-Jan./Apr. AD 238.
      Obv: MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM
                Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
      Rev: P M TR P IIII C-OS P P
                Maximinus, in military dress, standing left between two
                standards, leaning left on spear and raising right hand.
      Mm: None.
      Ref: RIC 6; MIR 29-3; BMCRE 219; Hunter -; RSC 70.
      Pedig: Brandt FPL 2 (Spring 2001), no. 308.

Notes: This denarius, from the final issue of Maximinus, has a reverse legend containing his fourth, and final, tribunican power, which he received on 10 December AD 237. Alram (MIR 27) placed these coins in the sixth, and final, emission from Rome, and R.A.G. Carson, in his article "The Coinage and Chronology of A.D. 238" in CPANS, noted it as the last issue of Maximinus from Rome. The Gordianii began their revolt against Maximinus in January of AD 238, and the Rome mint, following the lead of the Senate, changed sides and began minting coinage for the Gordianii a some point thereafter. In his introduction to the reign of Maximinus I in BMCRE, Carson noted that this occurred shortly before the fall of Maximinus in April AD 238. However, more recent hoard evidence, including a substantial increase in the surviving denarii of the Gordianii (in contrast to the quite rare issues of Maximinus' final issue), suggests that this may have occurred as early as January AD 238.

GORDIAN III
AD 238-244

                AR Antoninianus (3.67 g, 25mm, 7).
      Mint: Rome, 6th officina.
      Struck: 13th-14th emission, Jan.-Mar. AD 238.
      Obv: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG
                Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
      Rev: P M TR P VII COS II P P
                Mars advancing right, holding shield and spear.
      Mm: None.
      Ref: RIC 167A; Hunter -; Smyrna -; Tulln 600 (same obv. die);
                RSC 280.

Notes: Based on the tribunician number in the reverse legend, this coin belongs among the final issues of the Rome mint under Gordian III. J. Mairat placed this dated type in the 13th, penultimate, emission, but not the 14th, ultimate, emission, based on the fact that there are bronze coins of this type, and the 14th emission only has gold and silver denominations. This dated type was struck in the 6th officina, as a companion to the 'Mars Propugnat' type. Both employed the same iconography of Mars advancing right, holding spear and shield, and only varied in their reverse legend. The 'Mars Propugnat' type continued into the 14th emission, but with a shortened legend, 'Mars Propug'. The fact that there are no bronze in this emission, however, should not conclusively preclude the continuation of the silver denomination of the dated type. In any event, this dated type is very rare in silver; only the Cohen example is cited by RIC and RSC, and only three were found in the major hoards containing large proportions of Gordian's coinage (3952 coins total): Reignac (Charente) (TM XIX), 2 (numbers 482-3); Tulln, 1; Smyrna, 0; Souzy-la-Briche (Essone) (TM XV), 0; and the 4 Cravent (Yvelines) hoards (TM XV), 0. The reverse type is an overt reference to Gordian's eastern campaigns against the Sasanians, which was then ongoing (and led to his death).

PHILIP I
AD 244-249

                AR Antoninianus (4.64 g, 22mm, 1).
      Mint: Antioch.
      Struck: 1st emission, AD 244.
      Obv: IMP C M IVL PHILIPPVS P F AVG P M
                Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
      Rev: PAX FVND-ATA CVM PERSIS
                Pax standing facing, head left, holding palm frond and
                transverse scepter.
      Mm: None.
      Ref: RIC 69; Smyrna -; Hunter 120; RSC 113.

Notes: This coin is from the first coinage of Philip's reign. At the time, Philip was in the east, fighting against the Sasanians with the emperor Gordian III. Philip was Gordian's Praetorian Prefect, and was proclaimed emperor by the troops when the emperor was killed in the winter of AD 244. Although most sources claim Philip was involved, but there is no firm proof. Nonetheless, Philip was compelled to end the hostilities with the Sasanians (known to the Romans as Persians, hence PERSIS), and return to Rome to be formally recognized as emperor. The reverse type on this issue commemorates (or announces) the peace settlement between the two empires, and although it was not favorable to Rome, the conclusion the the hostilities was celebrated by the Romans.

PHILIP II
As Caesar, AD 244-246

                AR Antoninianus (4.25 g, 22mm, 6).
      Mint: Rome, 3rd officina.
      Struck: 4th emission, AD 245.
      Obv: M IVL PHILIPPVS CAES
                Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
      Rev: PRINCIPI IVVENT
                Philip II standing right, holding globe and spear.
      Mm: None.
      Ref: RIC 216c; Hunter 5; RSC 54.

Notes: This reverse type, a traditional one, commemorates Philip II's position as Caesar and princeps iuventutis. Philip was very young at the time, probably around 8 years old. Most of his portraits portray him with much older features, but the engraver of the die used on this coin apparently attempted to portray him at his actual age, as the portrait is obviously of a young boy.

TRAJAN DECIUS
AD 249-251

                AR Antoninianus (5.46 g, 23mm, 7).
      Mint: Rome, 6th officina.
      Struck: 1st emission, AD 249.
      Obv: IMP TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG
                Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
      Rev: PAX AVGVSTI
                Pax standing left, holding branch and transverse scepter.
      Mm: None.
      Ref: RIC 6; Hunter 3; RSC 91.

Notes: This coin belongs to the scarce first issue of coinage under Decius at Rome, as signified by the obverse legend. This reverse type is simply a "stock" propaganda type, which continues in the form used on the Pax types of Philip I at Rome.

VOLUSIAN
As Caesar, AD 251

                AR Antoninianus (3.45 g, 22mm, 7).
      Mint: Rome, 4th officina.
      Struck: 1st issue, circa June-August AD 251.
      Obv: C VIBIO VOLUSIANO CAES
                Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
      Rev: PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS
                Volusian standing left, holding wand and spear.
      Mm: None.
      Ref: RIC 134; Hunter -; Cunetio 343; RSC 100.

Notes: This rare coin is from the very brief issue of Volusian as caesar. It is uncertain how long the issue actually lasted, as he was quickly raised to joint-augustus with his father, Trebonianus Gallus.

VALERIAN I
AD 253-260

                AR Antoninianus (3.20 g, 20mm, 6).
      Mint: Viminacium.
      Struck: 3rd emission, AD 257-258.
      Obv: IMP VALERIANVS P F AVG
                Radiate and cuirassed bust right.
      Rev: VICT PART
                Victory standing left, holding shield and palm; to left,
                captive, in mourning, seated left.
      Mm: None.
      Ref: Cf. RIC 262; MIR 847d; Hunter -; cf. RSC 255.

Notes: During the joint reign of Valerian and Gallienus, a pragmatic approach to ruling the vast empire was adopted, hopefully abating the difficulties of governing such vast territorites by the previous emperors. The novel mechanism was to split the empire between the two Augustii, with Gallienus ruling in the West while Valerian campaigned (and ruled) in the East. The Persians were the most pervasive threat to the Empire at the beginning of Valerian's reign, and it was obvious that Valerian would have to personally lead an army to combat them. Valerian's army arrived too late to stop the Sasanians under their king, Shahpur I, from devastating the eastern provinces. The Sasanians typically did not occupy, but rather raided, as their forerunners, the Parthians typically had done. Valerian stayed in the East to mop-up and rebuild while Gallienus faced threats along the Rhine and Danube. During his Danube campaign, Gallienus opened the mint of Viminacium to have a mint located close to the imperial headquarters along the war front. In AD 257, Valerian joined Gallienus there. Not long after, word reached there that the Sasanians were once again invading, and Valerian left again for the east in the spring of AD 258. This issue either was made for a token commemoration of the previous campaign, or else (more likely) in anticipation of another, and hopefully final, victory. If the latter, than all was for naught, as Valerian was captured by Shahpur in AD 260, becoming the first Roman emperor to ever be captured by an enemy. News of his capture gave impetus for massive invasions by Alamanni, Franks, and Juthungi aross the Rhine and Danube frontiers, and emboldened the Goths' sea raids. These events prevented Gallienus from ever attempting to lead an army east to rescue his father, who died as a captive, after being subjected to years of public humiliations at the hands of Shahpur.

POSTUMUS
Romano-Gallic Emperor, AD 260-269

                AR Antoninianus (2.98 g, 22mm, 7).
      Mint: Mint city I (Treveri [Trier]), 1st officina.
      Struck: 1st emission, 1st phase, AD 260.
      Obv: IMP C M CASS LAT POSTIMVS P F AVG
                Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
      Rev: SALVS PROVINCIARVM
                River god Rhinus reclining left, resting right arm on
                forepart of boat left in background, cradling reed in
                left arm, which rests against urn to right.
      Mm: None.
      Ref: RIC 87 corr. (obv. legend); AGK 87a; Cunetio 2367.


                AR Antoninianus (3.18 g, 20mm, 12).
      Mint: Mint city I (Treveri [Trier]), 1st officina.
      Struck: 1st emission, 1st phase, AD 260.
      Obv: IMP C M CASS LAT POSTIMVS P [F AVG]
                Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
      Rev: [SAL]VS PROVINCIARVM
                River god Rhinus reclining left, resting right arm on
                forepart of boat left in background, cradling reed in
                left arm, which rests against urn to right.
      Mm: None.
      Ref: RIC 87 corr. (obv. legend); AGK 87a; Cunetio 2367.

Notes: The Cunetio hoard clarified the structure of Postumus' coinage, and clearly defined not only the true identity of the Gallic mints, but also allowed the full reconstruction of the sequence of Postumus' coin issues. This coin is from the first phase of the first issue of Postumus' coinage at Trier, which was the first mint to strike for the new Gallic emperor. This first issue comprises two phases, which are differentiated by the form of the obverse legend. At the first instance, the mint employed a long legend form stating Postumus' full name and titles. Apparently for practical reasons, this was soon changed to a short form that dropped the "M CASS LAT" from his antoniniani (but was retained on his bronze issues). Another interesting feature of this early coinage is the style of Postumus' portrait, which was influenced by the style of Gallienus' portraits at Lugdunum. Cunetio and the analysis of the Gallic empire by Drinkwater showed that Postumus took control of the Imperial mint at Lugdunum, and moved its personnel to Trier, where he established his first mint. It is likely that in the expediency of needing to coin money for the new emperor, these mint workers were not made intimately familiar with the new emperor's portrait, so they initially produced portraits resembling the emperor they had just been engraving, Gallienus. Over the course of his first year, however, Postumus' portrait significantly changed to what is likely a more accurate representation. A final note on the obverse legend, all examples of this first phase have Postumus' name spelled POSTIMVS. The authors of Cunetio discovered that all past studies (Cohen, Eimer, etc.) completely missed this, and assumed the coins read POSTVMVS. Thus, these authors cite the legend incorrectly. Also, RIC 87 mistakenly does not even list the full legend variety of the first phase, even though it cites Cohen 353, which is of this long legend phase.

Only two reverse types were struck in Postumus' first issue, SALVS PROVINCIARVM with a representation of the Rhine river god, and VICTORIA AVG with the personification of Victory above two captives. The choice of only two reverses reflects the intent with which Postumus wanted to clearly project both his accomplishments and the purpose of his reign. Postumus was elevated, as most emperors in the mid-third century, by his troops following a series of victories along the Rhine frontier, and his Victory reverse is a reflection of his military prowess which is the base of his rule. While a Victory reverse was very common for any emperor's coinage, the Salus type here is completely innovative. By the time of Postumus' elevation, Gaul had been ravaged by decades of cross frontier raids that had left the Gallic provinces in tatters, and the demands of the east had taken much of the empire's military away from the west, leaving most provinces there to depend on themselves alone. This isolation directly contributed to the situation that resulted in Postumus' elevation, as the inhabitants of the Gallic provinces looked for someone to save them. With this in mind, Postumus' Salus reverse type directly addresses his intent to tend to this need directly; he will heal the Gallic provinces.

VICTORINUS
Romano-Gallic Emperor, AD 269-271

                Antoninianus (3.61 g, 18mm, 12).
      Mint: Mint city I (Treveri [Trier]).
      Struck: 1st emission, AD 269.
      Obv: IMP C PIAVVONIVS VICTORINVS P F AVG
                Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
      Rev: FIDES M-I-LITVM
                Fides standing left, holding signum in each hand.
      Mm: None.
      Ref: RIC 116; AGK 5a; Cunetio 2515.

Notes: Until the analysis of the Cunetio and Normanby hoards all literature followed the mint analysis of Elmer as to what coinage belonged to which mint. The hoard studies have fairly conclusively reversed Elmer's attributions; Trier is the primary mint and Cologne was the secondary mint established late in the reign of Postumus. Thus, coinage previously attributed to Trier or "a southern mint" are now Cologne, and those of Cologne are now Trier.

This coin is from the first issue of Victorinus' coinage at Trier, where he was proclaimed emperor upon the death of Marius in AD 269. The issue is characterized by the long form of Victorinus' name, and the rarity of these coins suggest that the issue was very brief, perhaps only a month.

CLAUDIUS II GOTHICUS
AD 268-270

                Antoninianus (3.09 g, 20mm, 6).
      Mint: Mediolanum (Milan), 2nd officina.
      Struck: 1st emission, AD 268.
      Obv: IMP CLAVDIVS P F AVG
                Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind.
      Rev: VICTORI-A AVG
                Victory advancing right, holding wreath and palm.
      Mm: S.
      Ref: RIC 171; Venèra 9109-53; Hunter 64.

Notes: This coin is from the first issue of Claudius' coinage at Milan. It was here that he participated in the murder of Gallienus and was subsequently proclaimed emperor. The reverse type is a standard among the Roman coin iconography, reflecting a recent or pending (hopeful) victory of the emperor. In this instance, the reverse probably reflects Claudius' victory over the rebel Aureolus, who had seized Milan during the final year of Gallienus' reign. Claudius had tricked Aureolus into surrendering, saying he would spare the rebel's life, but then reneged and had Aureolus executed. Aureolus had made overtures to the Gallic emperor Postumus for aid, and struck coins for Postumus, which had a very unique portrait style. It has been noted that the earliest coins of Claudius struck at Milan have two distinct portrait styles, one of which is very similar to that on Aureolus' coins of Postumus. These very rare coins are thought to be the earliest, with their dies being engraved by Aureolus' mint officials, who must have been retained in their positions, at least long enough to make a few dies for the new emperor's coins. The present coin is one of these with the Aureolus-style portraits.

QUINTILLUS
AD 270

                Antoninianus (3.83 g, 18mm, 8).
      Mint: Mediolanum (Milan), 2nd officina.
      Struck: 1st emission, AD 270.
      Obv: IMP C M AVR CL QVIN[TILLV]S AVG
                Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind.
      Rev: FORTVN-A-E RED
                Fortuna standing left, holding rudder and cornucopia.
      Mm: -/-//S
      Ref: RIC -; Huvelin 12; Venèra -; Hunter -.

Notes: This coin is from the second officina in the first issue for Quintillus at Mediolanum. This is the only issue at Mediolanum to use the long form of Quintillus's obverse legend (which is the primary indicator for this issue when combined with the bust style used only at Mediolanum - radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind). Prior to the Venèra hoard's publishing, there were no examples of this issue recorded in a primary reference - testament to their rarity. Huvelin only notes three examples (one each from the Evreux, Komin, and Arona hoards) of this paticular type and officina in collections in her study. The reverse type and legend used on this particular specimen is a continuation of that begun in the second officina in the final emission of Claudius II from Mediolanum.

                Antoninianus (4.10 g, 19mm, 6).
      Mint: Mediolanum (Milan), 2nd officina.
      Struck: 3rd emission, AD 270.
      Obv: IMP QVINTILLVS AVG
                Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind.
      Rev: FIDES EXE-RCITI
                Fides standing facing, holding two signa.
      Mm: None.
      Ref: RIC -; Huvelin 34; Venèra 10320; Hunter -.

Notes: Both Giard and Huvelin place this type from the second officina in the rare third issue from Mediolanum, the last issue before Quintillus's death. Like the specimens found delineating the first issue, all of those of the third issue were apparently unknown (or at least unpublished) until the Venèra hoard was printed. Huvelin only cites four examples of this type in collections (with one each from Venèra and Normanby). Perhaps most interesting is that this reverse is new for this third issue, and was also used for aurei. Furthermore, all of the known examples, including the sole published aurei, share the same reverse die. Perhaps in the expediency of this last issue, all dies, including those for aurei, were employed in striking antoniniani.

AURELIAN
AD 270-275

                Antoninianus (3.45 g, 21mm, 6).
      Mint: Siscia, 4th officina.
      Struck: 1st emission, Oct-Nov AD 270.
      Obv: IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG
                Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
      Rev: CONCO-RDIA MILI
                Concordia standing facing, holding two signa.
      Mm: -/Q//-
      Ref: RIC 192; MIR 174c4; BN 702.

Notes: This antoninianus is from the first issue of Aurelian at Siscia. At the time of Claudius II's death, Aurelian was the emperor's second-in-command, and had been given the duty of supressing the Gauls who had been ravaging the empire along the Danubian front. A strong and able commander, Aurelian's successes in this endeavor garnered him the support of most of Rome's legions upon Claudius' death. Soon after they proclaimed for him, Siscia, the closest mint, began striking coins for Aurelian. The extent of this first issue was large, and encompassed a variety of reverse types, most of which were a continuation of the themes of Claudius' last issue at Siscia. Nevertheless, the largest part of the issue used a new reverse type that reflected the source of Aurelian's power - the legions. The present coin is from this group, and these coins were likely used for the first payment of the new emperor to his loyal troops, ensuring their support against the forces of Quintillus, the brother of Claudius, who was proclaimed emperor by his troops in Rome. The quantity of these coins extant today is huge, and it is clear that the dies used to strike them were typically employed beyond their life, with die breaks being a common feature. Also reflecting the expediency of this issue is the crude nature of the coins, which often exhibit signs of poor minting, such as flat spots and off-center strikes. As such, the quality of the present piece is relatively exceptional. The expediency is also reflected by the lack of firm control over the emission (highly unusual in later issues), which simultaneously employed dies with a variety of long and short obverse legends and a wide range of artistic style.

TACITUS
AD 275-276

                Antoninianus (4.21 g, 22mm, 12).
      Mint: Rome, 6th officina.
      Struck: 1st emission, November AD 275.
      Obv: IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG
                Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
      Rev: CLEM-ENTIA TEMP
                Mars advancing left, holding branch, shield, and spear.
      Mm: -/Z//-
      Ref: RIC -; BN 1549 var. (officina in exergue).

Notes: This coin is from Tacitus' rare first issue at Rome, the mint city closest to his location at the time of his accession. No coins of this issue were known until the discovery of the Venera hoard, which contained five examples. Since that time, only a few more have come to light, but enough to establish the makeup of the entire emission, with all officinae represented, A-Z. This particular coin is only the second known coin, however, where the officina mark is in the field rather than in the exergue. The other piece, of the same officina and type, is in the BM. Estiot (BN) places these coins in the same emission as those with officina marks in the exergue, but as all following emissions place the mark in the exergue, and the previous issues under Aurelian (& Severina) place the it in the field, is likely that those with the mark in the upper field are earliest of Tacitus' coinage.

CARUS
AD 282-283

                Antoninianus (4.25 g, 22mm, 6).
      Mint: Ticinum.
      Struck: 1st emission, September/October AD 282.
      Obv: IMP C M AVR CARVS P F AVG
                Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
      Rev: VIRTV-S AVG
                Virtus standing right, holding spear and shield.
      Mm: None.
      Ref: Unpublished.

Notes: This coin is from the earliest issue of coins of Carus at Ticinum, the mint closest to Carus at the time of his accession. The first emission actually consists of two phases, the first without, the second with, mintmark. Coins with both spellings of Carus' name, KARVS and CARVS, are known for both phases, which proves that they were on coins issued concurrently, not consecutively (it was originally thought that the "Greek" name was on earlier issues, and the "Latin" name was used after corrected dies were made). Based on the fact that the unmarked coins are known from aurei and antoniniani, Gricourt (Venèra Hoard, vol. IV), following K. Pink, thinks this coinage constituted an inaugural, donative issue in celebration of Carus' accession. This donative, unmarked issue occurred concurrently at Lyon.

Coins from the unmarked phase are extremely rare, and only two antoniniani are known with the Greek spelling of Carus' name: Venèra 242, with VICTORIA AVG reverse, and CNG E-Auction 83, lot 237, with ABVNDANTIA AVG reverse. The Virtus reverse type from this issue is known from only two coins; the present coin and another that was in the stock of the firm CGB in France. Both appeared on the market at about the same time, which was also while a large quantity of other antoniniani from this period, in similar condition, appeared. Apparently, all must be from a recently discovered hoard of antoniniani from the western Roman Empire.