Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 138 18-19 May 2023
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Postumus, 260-269.
Aureus, Lugdunum Winter 263-264, AV 6.06 g. POSTVMVS PIVS AVG Laureate head r. Rev. QVINQVENNALLES POSTVMI AVG Victory standing r., l. foot on cuirass, writing on shield, set on her knee, X. C 308. Schulte 85a (this coin). RIC 34. Mazzini 308 (this coin). Calicó 3773.
Extremely rare. A bold portrait struck on an exceptionally large flan,
extremely fine / about extremely fine
Ex Hirsch XXXI, 1912, 1798; M&M 21, 1960, 79 and NAC 33, 2009, 563 sales. From the Mazzini collection.
During the winter of 263/264 Postumus struck aurei in anticipation of his quinquennalia, his fifth year in power. Considering he was a usurper in an impoverished and chaotic region of the empire, it was remarkable that Postumus had survived so long, and his celebration was well earned. Though he had achieved much since he raised the standards of revolt in the summer or fall of 260, Postumus had constantly been at war with the Germans, scoring a major victory at Magosa in 261 and defending his territories from them yet again in 263. Worse still, probably about the time this aureus began to circulate the legitimate emperor Gallienus had determined to recover his lost western provinces after rebounding from some devastating setbacks in his own realm. Gallienus led a devastating invasion of Postumus' territories and soon trapped the rebel in a walled town in Gaul. However, during the course of the siege Gallienus was struck with an arrow and had to turn the campaign over to a subordinate named Aureolus. Under new leadership the siege failed, and the Roman armies eventually withdrew. Since this was the same Aureolus who eventually allied himself with Postumus in a coup against Gallienus, historians have justifiably questioned whether the Roman offensive failed because of the genius of Postumus' defence or the unwillingness of Aureolus to finish Gallienus' job.
Aureus, Lugdunum Winter 263-264, AV 6.06 g. POSTVMVS PIVS AVG Laureate head r. Rev. QVINQVENNALLES POSTVMI AVG Victory standing r., l. foot on cuirass, writing on shield, set on her knee, X. C 308. Schulte 85a (this coin). RIC 34. Mazzini 308 (this coin). Calicó 3773.
Extremely rare. A bold portrait struck on an exceptionally large flan,
extremely fine / about extremely fine
Ex Hirsch XXXI, 1912, 1798; M&M 21, 1960, 79 and NAC 33, 2009, 563 sales. From the Mazzini collection.
During the winter of 263/264 Postumus struck aurei in anticipation of his quinquennalia, his fifth year in power. Considering he was a usurper in an impoverished and chaotic region of the empire, it was remarkable that Postumus had survived so long, and his celebration was well earned. Though he had achieved much since he raised the standards of revolt in the summer or fall of 260, Postumus had constantly been at war with the Germans, scoring a major victory at Magosa in 261 and defending his territories from them yet again in 263. Worse still, probably about the time this aureus began to circulate the legitimate emperor Gallienus had determined to recover his lost western provinces after rebounding from some devastating setbacks in his own realm. Gallienus led a devastating invasion of Postumus' territories and soon trapped the rebel in a walled town in Gaul. However, during the course of the siege Gallienus was struck with an arrow and had to turn the campaign over to a subordinate named Aureolus. Under new leadership the siege failed, and the Roman armies eventually withdrew. Since this was the same Aureolus who eventually allied himself with Postumus in a coup against Gallienus, historians have justifiably questioned whether the Roman offensive failed because of the genius of Postumus' defence or the unwillingness of Aureolus to finish Gallienus' job.