Most of what we know about Quintillus is uncertain. After his brother, Claudius Gothicus died, he may have been elevated to emperor by the Senate, or perhaps by his brother's soldiers. He may have reigned anywhere between 17 and 177 days. Aurelian's legions subsequently elevated Aurelian, but we are not certain how Quintillus died. Different accounts tell us he was murdered by his own soldiers, or that he committed suicide, or that he fell in battle against Aurelian. What we do know is that some of these things either happened or didn't happen in the year 270. Owing to his short reign, Quintillus' coins are scarce to rare. The ERIC rarity ratings put him at 91, for what that's worth. (We don't need to have that discussion again unless y'all really really want to.) This is the FIDES MILIT type, Fides holding two standards. The coin is a bit rough, but has excellent detail - a sharp bust, QVINTILLVS is complete, and the green are all mineral - no BD. Not a coin you see every day... Aurelian coming up, stay tuned...
Cool addition on the Quintillus, I like the hair on it. Mine isn't as curly. Æ(S) Antoninianus O: IMP CM AVR CL QVINTILLVS AVG, radiate, draped bust right. R: FORTVNA REDVX, Fortuna standing left with rudder and cornucopiae. Z in exergue. Rome Mint, 270 A.D. 2.65g 18mm Appleshaw hoard 305; RIC 19 var (cornucopiae)
Nice Mat! My bust is better, but your coin more than makes up for it with the copious lettering. This ant of Aurelian is as common as the ants of Quintillus are rare, but I love the look of coins that are almost fully silvered. RESTITVT ORBIS...
This the better of my two, it looks better in hand, the photo looks tatty because of the partial silvering. Quintillus Coin: Bronze Silvered Ant IMP C M AVR CL QVINTILLVS AVG - Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right VICTORIA AVG - Victory advancing right, holding wreath and palm.Gamma in right field. Mint: (270 AD) Wt./Size/Axis: 2.87g / 19mm / - References: RIC V-I 33 Sear 11454
Aurelian AE Antoninianus. Rome, 272-274 AD. 4.1g, 22.2mm OBV: IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right. REV: IOVI CONSER, Jupiter on right & facing left, presents globe to Aurelian opposite, P in ex. REF: Cohen 105, Sear5 11542, RIC 48 Quintillus AE Antoninianus. Mediolanum mint. 2.6g, 18.79mm OBV: IMP QVINTILLVS AVG, Radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right, seen from behind. REV: FIDES MILIT, Fides standing facing, head left, holding standard in either hand. REF: RIC 52, Cohen 25.
It's very hard to find a decent Quintillus. Mine isn't really worth sharing. The OP coin is about as good as they get. I'd like to find a fully silvered example.
Remember that Aurelian had a major conflict with his mint workers early in his reign. This led to his XXI coins of much better metal and workmanship. That makes the absolute low end of coin quality late Claudius through earliest Aurelian which is all of Quintillus. My best is not full legend but my lesser one is more typical. DIVO CLAVDIO Quintillus - my lesser My better Aurelian pre reform
the Q man is on my list, but not at the top, but he's on there. the silvering on the aurelian coin is SUPER JA! i need to beef up my aurelian coins as well, i only have a alexandrian tet i posted recenlty...and a very rough ant i won't both anyone with.
Joke aside, here's my Quintilius (3/4 of it at least) Quintillus, Antoninianus Mediolanum mint, AD 270 IMP QUINTILL[VS AVG], radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right [M]ARTI PACI, Mars standing left, holding olive branch and spear 2.8 gr Ref : RCV # 11447, Q
Here's my Quintillus. The coin is poorly made, but somehow the strike of the pictures went well. I believe the reverse is RIC 45 (see Wildwinds), Concordia with standard left and horn of plenty right. Can't understand the letters though. 17 mm (more or less) and 1,84 gr.
I do not think Q's coin is broken but simply struck on a very irregular flan. 2.8g is a good weight for a whole coin and the fissures look like you get when the flan was poured not filling the mold more than broken by accident. It is a great example of a mint that did not care.
