Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 106 9-10 May 2018
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Uranius Antoninus, 253 – 254. Aureus, Emesa 253-254, AV 5.27 g. L IVL AVR SVL ANTONINVS Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust l. Rev. FECVND – ITAS AVG Fortuna standing l., holding rudder in r. hand and cornucopia in l. C –. RIC 3b. Calicó 3386 (these reverse dies). Baldus, JNG 1990, 34 (these dies).
Exceedingly rare, only three specimens known. A very interesting portrait struck
on a broad flan, scuff on obverse on the forehead, otherwise good extremely fine
Ex M&M 93, 2003, Bally-Herzog, 250; M&M 94, 2004, Bally, 259 and Noble Numismatics 97, 2011, 3239 sales. Privately purchased in on the 11th of October 1909.
Uranius Antoninus produced a remarkably diverse and interesting coinage, especially considering he reigned so briefly, and under such dire circumstances. It consists of imperial-style aurei, excessively rare denarii struck from aureus dies, and three types of provincial-style coinage – silver 'tetradrachms,' billon tetradrachms and large bronzes.
His aurei, which present his full name, Lucius Julius Aurelius Sulpicius Uranius Antoninus and bear a portrait reminiscent of Elagabalus, were struck at a heavy standard for the period, between 55 and 60 per Roman pound. His contemporaries lagged far behind: Trebonianus Gallus (251-253) struck aurei at 1/90th of a Roman pound, and though Valerian and Gallienus struck their aurei at 1/70th of a pound in their accession year of 253/254, they subsequently fell to the same light standard of Gallus.
His coinage includes an issue of provincial bronzes dated to the 565th year of the Seleucid Era, thus providing an anchor date of 253/254 for his rebellion. Even so, the reverse type of this aureus is of chronological value, as it suggests Uranius' rebellion and coinage could not be earlier than 248 since it copies a type that Philip I (244-249) introduced in that year for the millennial games in Rome.
Exceedingly rare, only three specimens known. A very interesting portrait struck
on a broad flan, scuff on obverse on the forehead, otherwise good extremely fine
Ex M&M 93, 2003, Bally-Herzog, 250; M&M 94, 2004, Bally, 259 and Noble Numismatics 97, 2011, 3239 sales. Privately purchased in on the 11th of October 1909.
Uranius Antoninus produced a remarkably diverse and interesting coinage, especially considering he reigned so briefly, and under such dire circumstances. It consists of imperial-style aurei, excessively rare denarii struck from aureus dies, and three types of provincial-style coinage – silver 'tetradrachms,' billon tetradrachms and large bronzes.
His aurei, which present his full name, Lucius Julius Aurelius Sulpicius Uranius Antoninus and bear a portrait reminiscent of Elagabalus, were struck at a heavy standard for the period, between 55 and 60 per Roman pound. His contemporaries lagged far behind: Trebonianus Gallus (251-253) struck aurei at 1/90th of a Roman pound, and though Valerian and Gallienus struck their aurei at 1/70th of a pound in their accession year of 253/254, they subsequently fell to the same light standard of Gallus.
His coinage includes an issue of provincial bronzes dated to the 565th year of the Seleucid Era, thus providing an anchor date of 253/254 for his rebellion. Even so, the reverse type of this aureus is of chronological value, as it suggests Uranius' rebellion and coinage could not be earlier than 248 since it copies a type that Philip I (244-249) introduced in that year for the millennial games in Rome.