Postumus cadeuceus

Another new coin from today's haul is a Postumus antoninianus that I did not have. I have a weak spot for Postumus because he is so very handsome.

Postumus 260-269 AD AR antoninianus Winged caduceus with snake heads SAECVLO FVGIFERO

This is late in the silver period before the coins turned to copper but this billon is a bit better than the two in my other post tonight. This is also the last billon for this group. The rest are Republicans.

 

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Great Postumus coin => sweet cadeuceus!!

Apparently you think you look a bit like Postumus, eh? (I see a slight resemblance) ... oh, and I aslo find it quite difficult to tell the difference between Postumus and my recent Marius example (is it just me?)




... see what I did there?

errrr, and am I also allowed to toss-in a cadeuceus example?

 

Great coin, Doug. Never seen that reverse from him, must be pretty rare.


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

 

Yet another Postumus reverse I'd like to get my hands on. You can really tell from the great variety of propagandistic types he struck that Postumus was no fly by night usurper and really was trying to establish an alternative empire. The SAECVLO FRVGIFERO legend on this one invokes a golden age of Fertility.

 

All the reverses posted here are types I haven't run across yet. I never realized old Postumus had such a variety.

I'll just post my 'droopy drawers' reverse version of the good lookin' old dude...Hey, he reminds me of someone I've seen recently and it's not Santa



Congrats all !!

 

This Postumus arrived today. It also fits into your other thread with ugly billon issues, but is probably more appropriate here. It's generally true that early Postumus ants had better silver than ones of the later period, but coins of this very first issue of his are almost always in junky metal that did not stand the test of time well.



The reverse legend, SALVS PROVINCIARVM, declaring for the health of the Gallic provinces, as well as the distinctive horned river-god Rhine, are what always made this type high on my Postumus want list. They do come in better grades, but those generally cost more than casual Postumus collectors are willing to spend. It should also be pointed out that this first issue had Postumus looking rather more like Gallienus than Santa Claus or Doug Smith .

 

Postumus appears to have issued more interesting reverses than I realized! Nice coins, everyone.

I have only one of his.


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 -.

 

Postumus has some really rare and interesting types (none of which I have) but, like Gallienus, some types were only made in the years of bad metal. If you are set on good metal and fine workmanship, you will be limited to certain designs. He also has some impressive bronze double sestertii but most are seen in grades bad and worse rather than FDC. Better than mine are not hard to find but a lot better will be a lot harder.

 

Great Postumus coins, I too like all the Gallic Empire coinage. Many coins were minted in Colonia (Koln) Germany. Even in my neck of the woods (Julich) many Gallic Empire coins were discovered. I do not have any of these wonderfull coins, hopefully pick some up in future auctions.

 

Great coins all, greetings

 

Very interesting coin Dougsmit, as Saeculum Frugiferum is a north-African fertility god. It is sometimes depicted on Septimius Severus and Clodius Albinus coins, but they were "from the region". Why would Postumus honor this obscure god on his coins as he didn't rule over north-Africa?

 

My guess is that many coin types were copied from earlier coin types rather than thought out as appropriate for the time. Perhaps this is why this type is not one of the most common???

 

my only one "radiate DS"

 

Oh sorry, I have one more nasty ol' Postumus example ...

=> oh, and it comes with a couple of sweet stevex6 home-photos!! (you lucky pups)







Oooowwww, my eyes!! (they buuuuurn!!)

 

I do have a Postumus,


Postumus, 259-268 AD
antoninianus, 20 mm, 3.2 gm, Cologne
Obv: IMP C POSTVMVS PF AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev: PROVIDENTIA AVG, Providentia standing left holding globe and transverse scepter
Captured from our own John Anthony...

AND,

I ALSO have an Aureolus mintage in the Name of Postumus... He was a Usurper and to read Wikipedia, he was a wily guy, back and forth for and against Postumus, Gallienus, etc... LOL, one of the reasons I am just not a big fan of Later Empire history. But, hey, I seem to have a bunch of RE coins...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aureolus


Aureolus, in the name of Postumus. The "EQVIT" series, struck during the revolt at Milan against Gallienus.
Cunetio Hoard, 2482.
CONCORDIA EQVIT
Ex. Baldwin's, London, Sept. 10, 1986
Got this little gem from our own Warren Esty!

(Nice, MATCHING Green coins!)

 

AUREOLUS
Antoninianus
OBVERSE: IMP POSTVMVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Postumus right
REVERSE: VIRTVS EQVIT, Virtus advancing right, holding transverse spear and shield; T in ex.
Struck at Mediolanum, 268 AD
3.17g, 19mm
RIC V 388

 

Great coin Doug. His portraits do look a little familiar.

 

I have a couple


Postumus
Coin: 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

Postumus
Coin: 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

 

I too love his Santalike portraits, and yes, he has some good style on them, although they're hard to find in high grade, as stated by DS, but also distinctive reverses. Anyway, the top of the pops are aurei with his facing bust, none of which I have of course (and VERY disapointed @panzerman didn't show any yet )


Postumus, Antoninianus
IMP C POSTVMVS PF AVG, radiate and draped bust right
VICTORIA AVG, Victoria advancing left, captive at her feet
3.65 gr
Ref : Cohen # 377,



Postumus, Antoninianus
IMP C POSTVMVS PF AVG, radiate and draped bust right
SERAPI COMITI AVG, Serapis standing left, raising right hand and holding spear
4.3 gr
Ref : RCV # 10992, Cohen # 360



Postumus, Double sestertius struck in Cologne, AD 261
IMP C M CASS LAT POSTVMVS P F AVG, Radiate bust of Postumus right
LAETITIA AVG, Galley travelling left
18.12 gr
Ref : Cohen #177, RCV #11049

Q