Prior to Hadrian, who wore a beard to conceal a facial flaw, Roman emperors were generally clean-shaven and had at most very short beards (for example, Titus had one when mourning the death of his father, Vespasian). Much later, under the tetrarchs, emperors had very neatly trimmed short beards. In the third century all emperors old enough to have beards had them. Perhaps the most dramatic was the beard of Postumus, Gallo-Roman emperor 259-268. He has a "Santa Claus" beard: 24-23 mm. (Remarkably large flan) Struck at Lugdunum. IMP C POSTVMVS PF AVG HERC DEVSONIENSI Hercules standing right leaning on club and holding bow and lion skin. RIC 64 "of Deuso, on the Rhine, which as Deutz, still forms the eastern bridgehead of Cologne." Foss in Roman Historical Coins says "Honors the patron god of Deuso where Postumus was proclaimed emperor (or perhaps was born)."
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
Victorinus isn't far off. Victorinus (268 - 271 A.D.) Æ(S) Antoninianus O: IMP C VICTORINVS P F AVG, radiate draped and cuirassed bust right. R: PAX AVG, Pax standing left holding scepter and branch, V in left field, * in right field. Treveri (Trier). Struck 269 - 270 A.D. 3.1g 20mm RIC V 117; AGK 14a; Cohen 83
Love the posts!!! And since I regrew a beard, I feel like one of the gang LOL How about a Postumus/Aureolus type with his version of the Santa inspiration..
Ho Ho Ho, it's Postumus Claus! Postumus CE 260-269 antoninianus, 20 x 22 mm, 3.0 gm struck CE 263 in Cologne Obv: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right Rev: PROVIDENTIA AVG, Providentia standing left, leaning on a column, holding a scepter in her right hand and a cornucopiae in her left; at her feet to left, globe Ref: RIC VII 81, Cologne; AGK (corr.) 70. Cunetio -. Elmer 334. Gilljam -. Very rare
Pertinax could be on the starting line too Pertinax, Denarius Rome mint, AD 193 IMP CAES P HELV PERTIN AVG, laureate head right VOT DECEN TR P COS II, emperor sacrificing left, with patera held over tripod altar 2.98 gr, 17 mm Ref : RIC # 13a, Cohen # 56, RCV # 6048 Ex Harlan J. Berk Q
Titus and Domitian both sported shortly cropped beards on their coins. Because they are not full beards they are hard to detect due to the amount of wear the coins received. Only high grade examples show them. Here are two I have. Titus AR Denarius Rome Mint, 24 June-1 July 79 AD RIC 1 (R), BMC 1, RSC 334a Domitian AR Denarius Rome mint, 82-83 AD RIC 144 (R), BMC 52, RSC 320
Well, since I just won this denarius of Sept Severus, I'll throw it into the 'pot' as well: I think he's the 'Santa' that delivers coal for the naughty
AN had a good idea to look outside the confines of Roman coins. Mithradates II, Parthian King, 123-88 BC. Drachm. 22-21 mm. 4.20 grams. Sellwood 26.2, Ecbatana mint. Shore 78.
JA's right------ Postumus makes the best looking Santa......and his example even looks 'jolly', while mine looks startled or surprised....Hmmmm 'rum cookies' ????
