Now that I've completed my recent travels, I have funds to fill some holes in my collection. So I've gone and got myself a Pertinax from 193AD, the year of the five emperors: Obverse: IMP CAES P HELV PERTIN AVG. Laureate head right. Reverse: OPI DIVIN TR P COS II. Ops seated left, holding two corn ears, left hand on top of throne. Next on my shopping list Pescennius Niger and Gordian Africanus I and II! If you have Pertinax, or the other rulers from 193AD, please post 'em
No Pertinax or Didius Julianus here but I do have a Pescennius Niger Pescennius Niger denarius Obv:– IMP CAE PESCEN NIGER IVST A, laureate head right Rev:– ROMAE AETERNAE, Roma in military attire seated left on cuirass, no shield at side or feet, Victory offering wreath in right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left hand Minted in Antioch. Apr 193 - May 194 A.D Reference:– Unpublished in primary references, cf. RIC IV 70d, RSC III 62b, BMCRE V p. 80 note, SRCV II 6121, Hunter III -, Scratches and scrapes, small edge test cut, hard edge bump on reverse resulting in crack on obverse, slightly off center cutting off parts of legends 2.690g, maximum diameter 17.1mm, die axis 15o
Nice capture Greg! No Pescennius Niger nor Pertinax... but I do have Didius Jiulianus Roman Imperial Didius Julianus 193 CE (9 weeks Emperor) AE Sestertius ( mm, g) Rome mint. Obv: Laureate head right Rev: Didius Julianus standing left, SC, holding globe and volumen. Ref: RIC IV 16; Banti 6
Nice coin you have there! You have a reasonable portrait. I would be looking for something similar. Pescennius is hard to find in good condition and on good metal. I've heard that he was subject to a "damnatio memoriae", and many of his coins were removed from circulation and melted - this is inferred from the great many reverse types he has, which means lots of activity in the mints during his short reign - and so you'd expect his coins to be more abundant.
Ah yes, i love Didius. There's a great story of the throne auction behind his coins. And again, so unaffordable in high grade. But a coin of Didius with a reasonable portrait and honest wear, is a great thing to have especially knowing the history.
Not even a Clodius Albinus in there, much less a Pertinax. I'm thinking I got totally stiffed on that lot .
Poor me. I have no porridge. Please sir, more porridge. I'm just feeling sorry for myself since I have none of these. But, I'm happy for you. That Pertinax had to set you back a pretty penny. Other than the obverse legend, it's well detailed. Do you have it in hand or is that the seller's images. If seller's, perhaps the legend will be better in hand. Wait! Who am I to complain. I don't even have anything like it. Boo hoo. I'm back to feeling sorry for myself.
I doubt you were counting Clodius Albinus in the 193 group but he does have coins issued that year as Caesar under Septimius Severus. These have a date of COS like the denarius below but the ones with COS II like the sestertius would be later (194-195). I bought this crazy eye denarius many years ago (1989) from a dealer still in business today (almost unusual). I agree most of the Pescennius denarii were destroyed. Not just types but there are many die variations, mispellings mostly, seen only by a few coins. My BONI EVINTVS is an example of this while my VICTOR IVST AVG is a relatively common type with several examples known. Both of mine are 194 AD coins. I need a 193. The OP is a nice Rome mint coin. I do not have one but here are two from the Alexandria mint which are, IMHO, a bit more common than the Rome mint coins. Relatively few dealers are 100% comfortable with making the distinction. I do not have a Didius Julianus anymore (sold in 1974) but there is this Septimius early 193 die which looks a lot like him.
Wonderful posts and fantastic capture @Greg Heinrich !!! I am missing Pescennius Niger, Didius Julianus and Clodius Albinus but did snag this relatively inexpensive denarius of Pertinax:
Perhaps I should mention that there are more people who want a Pertinax than there are Pertinax coins so enterprising businessmen have produced a wide variety of fakes. First is a denarius by Slavey from Bulgaria c.1990. When I bought it ($4) the coin was bright and clean silver. Slavey used old European silver for his fakes so the ones for Pertinax have a bit too much silver in the alloy. Twenty years of being thrown in a box have toned this one unevenly (why is the obverse right not cooperating?) but I have made no effort to speed toning and I did not carry it with pocket change to add 'real' wear. Many you see have had this 'help'. This is not his only reverse and he was not the only worker making fakes. Some are casts from real coins but this one is struck from original, fake dies. Beware. The sestertius below is probably 150 to 350 years old. The dies were made during the Renaissance period that brought us the Paduans but this one is a later cast. They sell as artworks in their own rite but for prices nowhere near that of genuine DIVVS PERT PIVS PATER coins. You might want to buy your Pertinax from someone you trust.
It's the dealer's image. It's on its way to me And yes, the portrait is what sold me. Hopefully even better in hand - I'll let you know!
Thanks for sharing Doug, and wise words of caution. I see obvious fakes on eBay but the really good ones (especially your first example) are hard to spot! My Pertinax comes from a well known and honest dealer - if there turned out to be a problem, he would do the right thing.
I have a Clodius Albinus, if that counts in the fray... Roman Imperial Clodius Albinus 193-197 CE AR Denarius ROMAE AETERNAE Roma seated
Clodius Albinus as Augustus are far scarcer than those as Caesar and always worth looking out for. Clodius Albinus Denarius Obv:– IMP CAES D CLO SEP ALBIN AVG, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev:– GEN LVG COS II, Genius of Lugdunum, standing facing, towered head left, vertical scepter in right hand, cornucopiae in left, eagle at feet to left and looking upward right Minted in Lugdunum. November A.D. 195 to 19th February A.D. 196 Reference:– RIC 23d (R2)
