postumus coin and some questions

this is a ruler of i've had on my list for quite some time. this one hit the sweet spot at the intersection of good portrait, price, and time I was looking.



Postumus
Billon Antoninianus
268 AD?(260-269 AD)?
Cologne mint? Trier mint?
Obv: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: ORIENS AVG / P (in field), Sol left, with right hand raised and holding whip in left hand, cloak flies out behind.
3.6 g, 20 mm.
RIC 316

some online sources list this as specifically minted in 268 AD, other just list the time of the reign of postumus from 260-268. anyone know if there is a reason for the specific 268 date?

some have this coin minted in trier and some (most) have it minted in cologne. anyone know for sure where this was minted?

it's an interesting reverse for a gallo-roman coin really? what was he trying to say? "i'm lord of the east as well so you can go suck an egg gallienus"?

and what's up with the crack on the reverse? did someone try to fill it?

post your favorite postumus coin or one you think needs some attention if you would like to pile on!

 

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I think ORIENS AVG suggests the metaphor of the emperor as the rising sun, and everything that implies. It does not refer specifically to the East, as much as it does to the light-bringing, life-giving qualities of the sun, hence Sol on the reverse.

 

Very nice OP coin. The best I can come up with is that the crack filled up with sediment. Other than that, I don't know. Or maybe it was repaired. Not sure.

 

Postumus BI Antoninianus, Lyons, 260-269 AD, 2.4g, 22.0mm

OBV: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right.

REV: HERC PACIFERO, Hercules standing right, holding olive branch & club.

REF: RIC V-II 67, RSC 101, Sear5 10946.

 

I have only one ant of Postumus. It appealed to me because of the portrait - the obverse got hammered hard, and they don't get much crisper than this. The reverse is average for the type. I usually like both sides of a coin balanced out, grade-wise, but I just couldn't resist the obverse on this one...

 

Awesome coin!

My Postumus is one of my favourite coins!



Obv: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.

Rev: HERC DEVSONIENSI. Hercules standing facing, holding club, bow and lion's skin.

RIC 64.

 

thanks guys!

dang WB, that is one sweet postumus! that blue toning is pretty as can be.

 

Postumus AE Antoninianus. Lugdunum mint. 2.9g, 23.3mm

OBV: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, radiate bust right.

REV: PROVIDENTIA AVG, Providentia standing left, holding globe and transverse sceptre.

REF: Sear5 10979. RIC 80

 

Oooh, I picked up a good number of Postumus ants last year, but none so far this year. You're tempting me!

The AD 268 date is probably from a chronology based on hoard studies, like this one of the Cunetio Hoard. Your coin would be a later issue (6th emission) from the primary mint (Trier).

My favorite Postumus is this double sestertius.


POSTUMUS
AE Double Sestertius
9.87g, 26.9mm
Atelier II, 261 - 263 AD
Elmer 263; Bastien 152 (15 ex.)
O: IMP C M CASS LAT POSTVMVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
R: VIC[TORIAE A]VG, two Victories standing face to face, attaching shield to palm tree, captives seated left and right below, S C in ex.
Seller notes: "According to the attribution/classification by D. Gricourt and D. Hollard, this is an example of the first phase, engraver A. From the same dies as specimen 152g, reproduced in the work by P.Bastien, from the collection of J.P Garnier."

 

Nice coin Chris. The coins of the Gallic emperor's are not usually found in such nice condition.

POSTUMUS
Antoninianus
OBVERSE: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and
cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: MONETA AVG, Moneta standing left holding scales and cornucopiae
Struck at Cologne, 262-5 AD
3.7g. 21mm
RIC 75


POSTUMUS
Antoninianus
OBVERSE: IMP C POSTVMVS PF AVG, his radiate, draped and cuirassed bust rt
REVERSE: PAX AVG - Pax advancing left, holding branch and scepter
Struck at Lugdunum, 259-268 AD
3.8g, 22mm
RIC 78

 

oh cool, thank you Z!

more nice postumi!

 

Great Postumus posts!!

Mine is like the one that Bing posted...

Silver Antoninianus: Radiate Portrait and Moneta holding scales...

 

That's a sweet new Postumus addition, my friend ... congrats on continuing to build an awesome collection!!

I have a couple of Postumus examples ... wanna see 'em?



... great lookin' coins, fellas ...

 

Steve, you're killing me---now I want that coin with the galley reverse!!

 

I suspect the OP coin was once completely encrusted but cleaned mechanically on the surfaces but no effort was made to dig dirt out of the crack. I've seen this listed as Trier, issue 6 (of 7) but I do not know on what this was based. I do know that I do not accept all of the 'issue' ID's I have seen because I have the opinion that better silver coins should be earlier in the reign and mostly AE ones toward the end. This is not always the case. There may be other explanations so I believe it best to answer the question, "anyone know for sure where this was minted?" with a big, "Not really!"

I like Postumus and can't pick just one favorite. Many have really nice obverses so 'special' coins will have some care taken on the reverse.
IOVI STATORI


...or maybe have not much reverse left like this galley overstruck on an Antoninus Pius sestertius. What was the original Pius reverse?

 

Silver Ant
IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG - radiate and draped bust right
SAECVLI FELICTAS - Postumus standing right with spear & globe.
Mint: (259-268 AD)
Wt./Size/Axis: 2.87g / 21mm / -
References:

• RIC 83
• RSC 331
• Sear5 10983

Silvered Ant
IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG - Radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right
HERC PACIFERO - Hercules standing right, holding olive branch & club and lions skin in left.
Mint: Lugdunum (260-269 AD)
Wt./Size/Axis: 3.01g / 21mm / -
References:

• RIC V Part II 67
• RSC 101
• Sear5 10946

And I'll raise you one Aureolus

Needs a bit of work
Ruler: Aureolus (Usurper)
Coin: Bronze Ant
IMP POSTVMVS ??? - Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right
VIRTVS EQVIT - Virtus advancing right, holding spear and shield
Exergue:


Mint: Milan (267-268 AD)
Wt./Size/Axis: 2.23g / 19mm / -
Rarity: Scarce
References:

• RIC V 388
• Mairat 224-5
• AGK 111b
• RSC 441

 

Nice one.


Postumus (260 - 269 A.D.)
AR Antoninianus
O: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
R: FIDES EXERCITVS Four military standards, hand on top of second, eagle on third.
Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck 266 A.D.
3.8g
20mm
RIC V 303; Cunetio 2432; Elmer 417; RSC 65

 

Great details on your new coin Chris, i really like these spiky crowns. sweet coin..

Here's a couple of mine...
Postumus..260-269..AD.
Ar. Antoninianus.
Obv. radiate draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev. Serapis standing left, raising hand and holding transverse scepter.
mint Cologne..
20mm x 4g.



Postumus..260-269..AD..
Ar. Antoninianus..
Obv. radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev. Postumus standing right, holding transverse spear and globe.
19mm x 3.38g.

 

I always liked the portrait of this one



How about an imitative?

Imitative AE As?
Obv:- IMP C M CASS LAT POSTVMVS P F AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right
Rev:- AMV above Galley, with rowers right, AMV below. Retrograde P to left?
cf. Bastien 310a-h (plate L = 50)

Atelier II

9.47 g. 25.42 mm



+1 Aureolus

 

POSTUMUS PROVIDENTIA
A.D. 263
COLOGNE
AR Antoninianus 22mm, 4.1 gm
Obverse: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG; Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: PROVIDENTIA AVG, Providentia standing left, holding globe and sceptre.
RIC V Cologne 80