Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XIX 26-27 Mar 2020
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Florian AV Heavy Aureus. Rome or Cyzicus, AD 276. IMP C M ANNIVS FLORIANVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / CONSERVATOR AVG, Sol driving galloping quadriga to left, holding whip in left hand and reins in right. RIC 17; Calicó 4124; MER-RIC 4524 (temporary); Estiot 1999/2, 10a = Jameson 292 = Hess, 14/IV/1954, 363. 6.42g, 21mm, 5h.
Good Extremely Fine; minor marks in rev. field, highly lustrous metal. Of the greatest rarity, the second known example.
From a private UK collection.
The period of Roman history now referred to as the Crisis of the Third Century saw the empire riven by climate change, plague, foreign invasions and near constant civil war that resulted in a profound and long-lasting breakdown of the Roman internal trade network and led inexorably to a shift towards localism and feudalistic practices. The emperor Aurelian had done much to restore the Roman Empire to a semblance of its former self by repulsing the Iuthungi and Goths as well as re-incorporating by conquest the breakaway Gallic and Palmyrene states into the empire, but was assassinated in AD 275 while marching east to confront the Sassanids. After an interregnum lasting eight months during which the army declined to elevate one of its own, the Senate at last offered the throne to the aged Tacitus, who was able to wield the support of both Senate and army as well as influence in the Praetorian Guard through his maternal half-brother Florian who he appointed to command the Guard. After less than a year however, Tacitus died en route to deal with a Frankish and Alamannic invasion of Gaul.
Florian immediately claimed the purple as the brother of Tacitus and was recognised by both the Senate and the western provinces in July of 276. He would reign for less than 90 days before being defeated and slain.
Florian never visited Rome during his short time as emperor, having been primarily occupied with repelling an invasion of the Goths in Pannonia. A competent military leader, he defeated them in battle within weeks of his accession. He was unable, however, to fully capitalise on their defeat, owing to the revolt of Probus, a proven commander who had served under both Aurelian and Tacitus, who had been hailed Imperator by the legions of Syria in opposition to Florian. Florian's forces therefore turned to confront the rival claimant to the throne, finally meeting Probus's army outside the city of Tarsus. Although Florian had the advantage of a larger and better trained army, Probus avoided pitched battle and instead waited for the late summer heat and camp disease to weaken his enemy for him. The Fabian strategy proved successful – although there are several different accounts of Florian's death, his betrayal by his own men features in all of them, as the worsening conditions caused them to renounce him. Florian likely died as a captive of Probus, after being handed over by his own former soldiers, probably executed once it became clear that Probus had no use for him alive.
The brevity of Florian's reign resulted in an unusually high proportion of aurei in his coinage, likely minted as an accession bonus to secure the loyalty of the legions. This issue belongs to a series whose mint location has been disputed, since until recently it was believed that only the Cyzicus mint had produced this type of heavy aureus. The reverse design of Sol, a popular choice of guardian deity for new emperors during the 3rd century, reflects a consistency with established imperial imagery. Shown here riding in the chariot which draws him across the sky each day, Sol was used as an appropriately authoritative figure and (ironically for Florian) a symbol for auspicious beginnings.
Good Extremely Fine; minor marks in rev. field, highly lustrous metal. Of the greatest rarity, the second known example.
From a private UK collection.
The period of Roman history now referred to as the Crisis of the Third Century saw the empire riven by climate change, plague, foreign invasions and near constant civil war that resulted in a profound and long-lasting breakdown of the Roman internal trade network and led inexorably to a shift towards localism and feudalistic practices. The emperor Aurelian had done much to restore the Roman Empire to a semblance of its former self by repulsing the Iuthungi and Goths as well as re-incorporating by conquest the breakaway Gallic and Palmyrene states into the empire, but was assassinated in AD 275 while marching east to confront the Sassanids. After an interregnum lasting eight months during which the army declined to elevate one of its own, the Senate at last offered the throne to the aged Tacitus, who was able to wield the support of both Senate and army as well as influence in the Praetorian Guard through his maternal half-brother Florian who he appointed to command the Guard. After less than a year however, Tacitus died en route to deal with a Frankish and Alamannic invasion of Gaul.
Florian immediately claimed the purple as the brother of Tacitus and was recognised by both the Senate and the western provinces in July of 276. He would reign for less than 90 days before being defeated and slain.
Florian never visited Rome during his short time as emperor, having been primarily occupied with repelling an invasion of the Goths in Pannonia. A competent military leader, he defeated them in battle within weeks of his accession. He was unable, however, to fully capitalise on their defeat, owing to the revolt of Probus, a proven commander who had served under both Aurelian and Tacitus, who had been hailed Imperator by the legions of Syria in opposition to Florian. Florian's forces therefore turned to confront the rival claimant to the throne, finally meeting Probus's army outside the city of Tarsus. Although Florian had the advantage of a larger and better trained army, Probus avoided pitched battle and instead waited for the late summer heat and camp disease to weaken his enemy for him. The Fabian strategy proved successful – although there are several different accounts of Florian's death, his betrayal by his own men features in all of them, as the worsening conditions caused them to renounce him. Florian likely died as a captive of Probus, after being handed over by his own former soldiers, probably executed once it became clear that Probus had no use for him alive.
The brevity of Florian's reign resulted in an unusually high proportion of aurei in his coinage, likely minted as an accession bonus to secure the loyalty of the legions. This issue belongs to a series whose mint location has been disputed, since until recently it was believed that only the Cyzicus mint had produced this type of heavy aureus. The reverse design of Sol, a popular choice of guardian deity for new emperors during the 3rd century, reflects a consistency with established imperial imagery. Shown here riding in the chariot which draws him across the sky each day, Sol was used as an appropriately authoritative figure and (ironically for Florian) a symbol for auspicious beginnings.