Who's Your Favorite 3rd Century Emperor?

Well I think most folks know my preference for Septimius Severus, but I really consider him a 2nd century Emperor for whatever reason.

I really like Gallienus even though his coins are a challenge because they are so raggedy.

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=6312

But really I have a passion for Probus. Just do, don't know why really.

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=6322

 

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Of course I had to say Severus Alexander, but I also heartily agree with those who have named Aurelian and Diocletian as the cream of the crop. That said, I want to put a word in for Claudius II too. He was the first in the series of soldier emperors that includes Aurelian and Diocletian, and he was remarkably successful for a reign of less than a year and a half. In particular, he gained major victories against the Goths and Alemanni, and made incursions against the breakaway Gallic empire. It was not for nothing that Claudius was named "Gothicus Maximus" as well as "Germanicus Maximus", and was chosen by Constantine to be his illustrious forebear in a (most probably) fabricated genealogy.

Admittedly Claudius's record may be somewhat exaggerated by contemporary historians aiming to please Constantine, but still... he must have been fairly impressive. I say: raise a glass to Claudius Gothicus!

 

Maybe nice to know that the Roman Gladius was copied by the French army under Napoleon, and later by the American armies in the Civil war on both sides.
It was known as an artilley sword , not for fighting the enemy , but for cutting bushes and tree branches to make way for the artillery canons.

I use it to rearrange the wood blocks in my fireplace

Bronze, steel blade and leather cover , 26 inches overall lenght





another coin of my favorite 3rd C. emperor Maximinus Thrax

 

Did @jamesicus say DIOCLETIAN?

RI Diocletian Ӕ Quinarius 1.46g 16mm Rome AD 284-305 IOVI CONSERVAT AVGG, Jupiter stndng thunderbolt sceptre RARE RIC 193


RI Diocletian 284-305 CE AE Folles VOT XX

CLAUDIUS II

RI Claudius II Gothicus 268-270 BI Ant Fortuna


RI Claudius II Gothicus 268-270 CE BI Ant Neptune Stndg dolphin trident

 

DIOCLETIAN
AE27 Silvered Follis
OBVERSE: IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, laureate head right
REVERSE: GENIO POPV-L-IROMANI, Genius standing left, holding patera & cornucopia, HTA in ex.
Struck at Heraclea, 296-297 AD
9.3g, 27mm
RIC VI 19a

 

My 3rd century favorite right now is Gallienus. Often his coinage is is in rough shape but lately I have scored a few nice examples. Here is one

Gallienus, BI antoninianus, joint reign. 258 AD. GALLIENVS AVG, radiate, cuirassed bust right / LEG IIII FL VI P VI F, radiate lion walking right.
RIC V-1, 343 Milan (Joint Reign).