Florian was reportedly a maternal half-brother to the Emperor Marcus Claudius Tacitus. Appointed Praetorian Prefect in Tacitus's army in his campaign against the Goths, he was chosen by the army in the West to succeed Tacitus in 276, without the Roman Senate consensus. However he minted coins bearing the "SC" legend, thus showing some bonds to the Senate. Florian was fighting the Heruli when the army in the East elected Probus. Florian had the support of Italia, Gaul, Hispania, Britain, Africa, and Mauretania. The two rival emperors met in battle in Cilicia; Florianus had the larger army, but Probus was a more experienced general and avoided a direct clash. Florian's western army was not accustomed to the hot, dry eastern climate, and Probus likely secured a small victory. Florian was assassinated by his own troops near Tarsus once their confidence was lost. He died in September 276, having been emperor for only eighty-eight days. I bought this coin from another CT member a while back. What drew me to it was the portrait. It reminds me of the portraits of Carausius, the rebel emperor of Britian and Gaul. FLORIANUS Silvered Antoninianus OBVERSE: IMP FLORIANVS AVG, radiate, cuirassed and draped with paludamentum bust r REVERSE: 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 Q in ex. Struck at 4th officina, Cyzicus mint, July-August 276AD. 4.4g, 20mm RIC V-1 116, RIC Online #4533 Side note: A family of the Brandenburg nobility called von Blumenthal claimed descent from Florianus in a fanciful legend which says that after his death his sons fled over the Alps and introduced viticulture to the north Germans.
Fricken Florian!! Wow, that's an awesome new addition, my cool big bro ... congrats!! ... your dude has a wreath (sweet)
neato! this cat is on my list as well...very nice jw. thanks for the intro as well, i forget who some of these third century dudes were...and get them all mixed up.
Florian Coin: Bronze Ant IMP C M AN FLORIANVS AVG - Radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right VIRTVS AVGVSTI - Mars advancing right holding shield & spear treading down captive, IIII in ex. Mint: Lyons (276 AD) Wt./Size/Axis: 3.37g / 21mm / -
Terrific purchase Bing and great examples everyone!!! My Bronze Ant of Florianus---a modest purchase from 'Holding History':
My only other Florianus: FLORIANUS Antoninianus OBVERSE: IMP FLORIANVS AVG, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right REVERSE: CONCORDIA MILITVM, Victory standing right presenting wreath to Florian standing left. Q in ex. Struck at Cyzicus, 276 AD 2.9g, 21mm RIC 116q
