Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XXIII 24-25 Mar 2022
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Florian AV Aureus. Ticinum, AD 276. VIRTVS FLORIANI AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust to left, holding sceptre and shield / VIRTVS AVGVSTI, Mars walking to right, holding spear and trophy, captive at feet to right. RIC V.1 24 (Rome); MER-RIC 4152 (temporary); C.106 (Rome); Calicó 4135 (Rome). 3.97g, 19mm, 6h.
Near Extremely Fine; tooled. Very Rare.
From the GK 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. 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. He would reign for less than 90 days before being defeated and slain.
This Florian aureus represents an early example of the portrait style depicting the emperor with a shield and spear, a composition previously utilised sporadically by Gallienus and Aurelian, but which only came into standard use under Probus, Florian's successor. The style would bloom in the early fourth century and onwards with some meticulously-engraved minute decorative scenes on the emperor's shield, most often including the iconic motif of a horseman bearing down on a fallen enemy. At this early stage, Florian's shield bears a simple scale pattern. The martial valour of the emperor is further emphasised on the coin by both the obverse and reverse legends 'VIRTVS FLORIANI AVG' and 'VIRTVS AVGVSTI' and the reverse type depicting Mars.
Near Extremely Fine; tooled. Very Rare.
From the GK 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. 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. He would reign for less than 90 days before being defeated and slain.
This Florian aureus represents an early example of the portrait style depicting the emperor with a shield and spear, a composition previously utilised sporadically by Gallienus and Aurelian, but which only came into standard use under Probus, Florian's successor. The style would bloom in the early fourth century and onwards with some meticulously-engraved minute decorative scenes on the emperor's shield, most often including the iconic motif of a horseman bearing down on a fallen enemy. At this early stage, Florian's shield bears a simple scale pattern. The martial valour of the emperor is further emphasised on the coin by both the obverse and reverse legends 'VIRTVS FLORIANI AVG' and 'VIRTVS AVGVSTI' and the reverse type depicting Mars.