Heritage World Coin Auctions
Long Beach Signature Sale 3067 6-7 Sep 2018
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Pescennius Niger (AD 193-194). AR denarius (18mm, 3.68 gm, 7h). NGC Choice VF 5/5 - 3/5, scuff. Antioch. IMP CAES C PE-SC NIGER AVG, laureate head of Pescennius Niger right / ROMAE AE-TERNAE, Roma standing facing, head left, Victory on globe in right hand, spear in left. RIC IV, Part I, -. BMCRE -. RSC -. CNG 61, 1853 var (different obverse legend, same reverse type). Rauch 11, 853. Extremely rare; one of apparently only three known examples of this reverse type with Roma standing.
Ex V.D.T. Collection
Pescennius Niger was a successful military commander in the reign of Commodus. In AD 191, he was made governor of Syria, leading a substantial legionary force, and was thus well-positioned when word arrived of Commodus' assassination on the last day of AD 192. When Pertinax was murdered less than two months later, Niger saw his opportunity and arranged for his troops to proclaim him emperor as a rival to Pertinax's replacement, Didius Julianus. Rather than marching on Rome, Niger remained in the east to solidify his power base. But his caution proved costly, as in the meantime the governor of Moesia, Septimius Severus, made a lightning march on Rome, easily disposed of Julianus, and induced the Senate to declare Niger a public enemy. Niger had the bigger army, but it suffered repeated defeats throughout early AD 194. Niger attempted to flee to Parthia, but was captured and executed by one of Severus' generals. Niger's coinage was confined to the eastern mints of Caesarea, Antioch and Alexandria, and was actively suppressed by the victorious Severus, accounting for its rarity today.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 1500-2000 USD
Pescennius Niger (AD 193-194). AR denarius (18mm, 3.68 gm, 7h). NGC Choice VF 5/5 - 3/5, scuff. Antioch. IMP CAES C PE-SC NIGER AVG, laureate head of Pescennius Niger right / ROMAE AE-TERNAE, Roma standing facing, head left, Victory on globe in right hand, spear in left. RIC IV, Part I, -. BMCRE -. RSC -. CNG 61, 1853 var (different obverse legend, same reverse type). Rauch 11, 853. Extremely rare; one of apparently only three known examples of this reverse type with Roma standing.
Ex V.D.T. Collection
Pescennius Niger was a successful military commander in the reign of Commodus. In AD 191, he was made governor of Syria, leading a substantial legionary force, and was thus well-positioned when word arrived of Commodus' assassination on the last day of AD 192. When Pertinax was murdered less than two months later, Niger saw his opportunity and arranged for his troops to proclaim him emperor as a rival to Pertinax's replacement, Didius Julianus. Rather than marching on Rome, Niger remained in the east to solidify his power base. But his caution proved costly, as in the meantime the governor of Moesia, Septimius Severus, made a lightning march on Rome, easily disposed of Julianus, and induced the Senate to declare Niger a public enemy. Niger had the bigger army, but it suffered repeated defeats throughout early AD 194. Niger attempted to flee to Parthia, but was captured and executed by one of Severus' generals. Niger's coinage was confined to the eastern mints of Caesarea, Antioch and Alexandria, and was actively suppressed by the victorious Severus, accounting for its rarity today.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 1500-2000 USD