Florianus

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by ancient coin hunter, Feb 19, 2020.

  1. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Just picked this one up, as I had yet to have a Florian in my collection.

    Florianus
    (Latin: Marcus Annius Florianus Augustus; died 276), also known as Florian, was Roman Emperor from July to September of the year 276 A.D. He was born, according to the chronicler Aurelius Victor, in a Danube province around the year 220 A.D. Considering the brevity of his reign, (3 months) he issued a wide variety of reverse types.

    He was reputedly the maternal half-brother of Tacitus, who was proclaimed emperor in late 275, after the unexpected death of Emperor Aurelian. At the time Florian was appointed as the Praetorian prefect. After Tacitus died in July 276, allegedly assassinated as a consequence of a military plot, Florianus proclaimed himself emperor, with the recognition of the Roman Senate and much of the empire.

    However, Florianus soon had to deal with the revolt of Probus, who rose up shortly after Florianus ascended the throne, with the backing of the provinces Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and Phoenicia. Probus took advantage of the terrain of the Cilician Gates in Asia Minor, and the hot summer sun of the area, which baked Florianus' army and reduced their morale. As the summer wound down in September Florian's army switched allegiance to Probus, a powerful military commander, and killed him, invalidating Florian's CONCORDIA MILITVM reverses on his antoniniani.

    Type: Silvered AE antoninianus, 23mm 4.1 grams, bulk of silvering intact.

    Obverse: IMP FLORIANVS AVG, Radiate portrait right, draped and cuirassed.

    Reverse: CONCORDIA MILITVM, Victory standing right, presenting wreath of victory to Florian standing opposite and holding spear.

    Mintmark: S. (Cyzicus)

    Reference: Cohen 15; Sear 11853.

    florian1.jpg

    florian2.jpg

    Please post any Florians or relevant coins of this troubled period.
     
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  3. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Here's one of Florian, also from Cyzicus and also with a CONCORDIA MILITVM reverse. The only difference between our coins is the officina. Yours was made by the second officina (S = secunda), mine by the third (T = tertiae). I suppose there was "harmony of the soldiers" -- until they switched sides and killed him!

    [​IMG]
    Florian, AD 276.
    Roman billon Aurelianus, 3.28 g, 21.2 mm, 12 h.
    Cyzicus, officina 3; issue 1, AD 276.
    Obv: IMP FLORIANVS AVG, Bust right, radiate, cuirassed and draped with paludamentum.
    Rev: CONCORDIA MILITVM, Victory stg. r., holding wreath in r. hand and palm against l. shoulder, facing Emperor in military dress stg. l., r. hand outstretched and holding long sceptre in l. hand; T in exergue.
    Refs: RIC 116; MER/RIC temp #4530; Cohen 15; CBN 1982-3; RCV 11853; Hunter 20.
     
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  4. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    A nice addition.

    [​IMG]
    Florian (276 A.D.)
    Æ(S) Antoninianus
    O: IMP C M ANN FLORIANVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right.
    R: PROVIDEN DEOR, Providentia standing right, holding two ensigns, facing Sol standing left, raising right hand and holding globe; star in lower centre, mintmark –/–//KA(•)Γ(•).
    Serdica Mint
    22.6mm
    3.56g
    RIC 111, BNC p.408

    http://www.ric.mom.fr/en/coin/4480?idType=4480

    Published on Wildwinds!
     
  5. Finn235

    Finn235 Well-Known Member

    Very nice with almost all the silvering still present!

    I've had several, but only one permanent resident
    IMP C M ANN FLORIANVS AVG, Radiare cuirassed bust right
    PROVIDEN DEOR / * / KH-Delta, Sol reaches for high five from Fides, who is too busy holding standards
    Serdicca mint
    Florian antoninianus providentia deor.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2020
  6. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Really nice example. Here are my two poor quality examples:
    Florianus1.jpg
    normal_florian_2.jpg
     
  7. Aidan_()

    Aidan_() Numismatic Contributor

    Nice looking ancient Florida man you got there!
     
  8. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    I only have one Florian but the circumstances might make a Concordia Militum the better choice for those only having one.
    rs2470bb1805.jpg
     
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  9. gogili1977

    gogili1977 Well-Known Member

    Florianus - Providentia
    image.jpg
     
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  10. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Nice coin! Great to see a lot of silvering on yours.

    It is amazing that such a short time as Emperor, several coins have been found.

    upload_2020-2-19_12-4-57.png
    RI Florianus Jul-Aug 276 CE AE23 Concord-Milit AE Antoninianus 4.2g, IMP C M AN FLORIANVS P AVG radiate Siscia RIC 57
    Ex: @seth77
     
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  11. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    I didn't know he was from Florida. But yeah, pretty cool. ;)
     
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  12. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    Love those short-reigns. They fascinate me.

    Here's the only Florian I've had. Roughish surfaces, but a nice lifelike portrait, in my opinion.

    [​IMG]
     
  13. Orange Julius

    Orange Julius Well-Known Member

    Great Florian coins everyone. I have a few in terrible shape... this is my one nice one.
    FlorianRIC116.jpg
    Florianus RIC 116
     
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  14. maridvnvm

    maridvnvm Well-Known Member

    I have generally collected Lugdunum mint issues of Florian and have about a dozen or so mostly in not great condition. Here are a couple at the better end:-

    These coins probably deserve an update to their images

    Florian Antoninianus
    Obv:– IMP C M AN FLORIANVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
    Rev:– VIRTVS AVGVSTI, Emperor advancing right, holding a shield and spear, treading down captive.
    Minted in Lugdunum (IIII in exe) Emission 3 Officina 4, from September to October A.D. 276
    Reference:– Cohen 107. Bastien 150. RIC 16 Bust type C

    Fully silvered with some silvering having transitioned to a golden tone.

    [​IMG]


    Obv:– IMP C M AN FLORIANVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
    Rev:– PACATOR ORBIS, Sol running left, holding up right hand, whip in left
    Minted in Lugdunum (//III) Emission 3 Officina 3. August A.D. 276
    Reference:– RIC 7 Bust type F. Cohen 46. Bastien 137

    [​IMG]

    My ONLY non Lugdunum Florian that I have ever bought was a coin with the fuller ANNIVS obverse legend

    Obv:– IMP M ANNIVS FLORIANVS AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right
    Rev:– SALVS PVBLI, Salus standing right, feeding serpent held in arms
    Minted in Ticinum (//T)
    Reference:– RIC Unlisted near 93 Bust type F (Unlisted with this obverse legend in RIC). RIC Temp 4160 (1 example, this coin - http://www.ric.mom.fr/en/coin/4160)

    [​IMG]
     
  15. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    Wow, that one's a stunner!
     
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  16. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

  17. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Agreed with @lordmarcovan , your Emperor advancing with Shield is fantastic! Nice capture, Martin.
     
  18. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

  19. Tejas

    Tejas Well-Known Member

    Here are two coins of Florianus from my collection. I show these coins because of the very different bust styles. On the second coin below, Florianus looks entirely like his half-brother Tacitus. I guess the celators initially didn't know how he looked and assumed that he must resemble his half-brother. The first coin shows an entirely different portrait, which is probably much closer to Florian's true appearance.
    Screenshot 2020-02-20 at 20.52.42.png Screenshot 2020-02-20 at 20.57.47.png
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2020
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