New Pupienus Maximus Sestertius - VICTORIA AVGG

My new Pupienus Sestertius arrived today and I it feels quite nice in hand - I can even tolerate the patina - plus it is quite hefty for a large bronze of it´s time:



IMP CAES M CLOD PVPIENVS AVG - Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind
VICTORIA AVGG - Victory standing facing, her head turned left, holding wreath in her right hand and drapery and palm frond in left; S-C across fields
Sestertius, Rome, 22. April – 29. July AD 238
32 mm / 23.82 g
RIC 23a, BMC 58, Cohen 38, Sear 8539, Banti 12 (35 specimens)



Marcus Clodius Pupienus Maximus was the younger of the two joint emperors who were elected by the Senate on April 22, 238 (if we follow the chronology proposed by Carson and followed by Sear), in response to the receipt of the news of the failure of the uprising in North Africa and the death of both Gordian I and II.


Sestertius of Gordian I

Pupienus must have possessed greater military experience than his co-emperor Balbinus, for it was he who was given responsibility for the defense of Italy against Maximinus Thrax, while Balbinus took responsibility for the civil administration.


Sestertius of Balbinus

The Victoria Reverse was introduced later in Pupienus´ and Balbinus join reign and appears on the bronze coinage (Sestertius and rare Dupondius) only.
It celebrates the victory over Maximinus Thrax, who was slain by his troops on June 24, 238 (date according to Carson) during the siege of Aquileia. Pupienus had just reached Ravenna and was still busy assembling troops, when a delegation presented him the heads of Maximinus and his son, the Caesar Maximus.


Sestertius of Maximinus I Thrax

According to William Henry Smyth (1834), the Victory type was struck „on the delivery of Rome, from the horrible threats of Maximinus. The express who brought the joyful tidings of the monster´s death, arrived in only four days from Aquilea, having travelled with unparalleled rapidity. The most extravagant exultation prevailed among all ranks of people: and when Pupienus returned, Balbinus, Gordian (III.), the Senate, and the whole city, went out to meet and conduct him in triumph to the palace“.

Little more than a month later, the incompetent and unpopular senatorial nominees were set upon by the praetorian guard and brutally murdered after a reign of only 99 days, on July 29, 238. 13 year old Gordian III was hailed as the new Augustus.


Sestertius of Gordian III

My first Sestertius of Pupienus was presumably a 19th century cast (I was able to return it to the seller but they resold it as genuine in one of their next auction despite it being condemned as a forgery by Sear):


Sestertius of Pupienus (cast forgery?)

I hope to have no such issues with my new acquisition and am happy to fill the vacancy. Next in line will for me will be a neat Maximus Caesar (the one I have is not nice enough to show here) and sometime I hope to lay my hands on Gordian II to complete my Sestertius set of the year of the six Emperors (and one Caesar).

 

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Gee JG, that's neat, congrats. And that Gordian I....

I've had a Pupienus sestertius at some point but got rid of it being unable to find a Balbinus in a similar state of preservation that would fit the bill.

Q

 

Same problem here. For some reason bronzes of Pupienus usually come in a better state of preservation than those of his colleague, considering that they must have been minted in exactly the same quantities.
I can only guess that either Pupienus and his coins have been held in higher regard after 238 or that the usually higher reliefs of Pupienus´ bearded portrait have stood circulation better than the flat depictions of Pupienus which lack such clear outlines.

My Balbinus is not perfect due to his somehow smoothed facial features, but it is way better than the flat and ugly specimen I replaced it with.

 

Here's my Balbinus and Pupienus sestertii acquired earlier in the year from JAZ numismatics...thanks for confirming @Julius Germanicus that the victory celebrated was indeed over Mr. Thrax. Balbinus has a CONCORDIA AVGG reverse but it appears based on the sources that both emperors soon bickered and stayed in opposite ends of the Palace, neither trusting the other of the temptations of sole rule. In any event, they were slain on the same day by the unruly Praetorians.

 

Looks like the Pupienus cast forgery was based on this Maximinus I Thrax - Liberalitas sestertius , changing AVG in AVGUSTORUM.

 

Very nice addition!!! Congrats!! I would not mind that patina either. I have yet to acquire one.

 

Way cool!

 

great coin

 

i am dont think yours is banti 12

 

this is banti 12 Pupienus. AD 238. Æ Sestertius (28mm, 16.71 g, 1h). Rome mint. 1st emission. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Victory standing facing, head left, holding wreath and palm frond. RIC IV 23a; Banti 12. Good VF, green patina, areas of corrosion and smoothing.

 

this is yours
COINS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. PUPIENUS, 238. Sestertius, Lugdunum. AE. 23,79 g. IMP CAES M CLOD PVPIENVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. VICTORIA AVGG Victory standing left holding wreath and palm; S-C across fields. RIC 23a. BMC. 58. C. 38.
Good very fine

same style beard

 

yes, it is the exact same coin

I certainly think it is, because all of Pupienus´ Sestertii with the VICTORIA AVGG reverse that name him as IMP CAES M CLOD PVPIENVS AVG on the obverse (Alberto Banti found a total of 35 specimens of those in Museums and major collections in 1987) are listed as Nr.12 in Banti´s "I Grandi Bronzi Imperiali" (Vol IV.2.), even if they come from different dies like the nice examples you show us.

Sestertii that name the emperor IMP CAES PVPIEN MAXIMVS AVG are much rarer.
They must have been introduced near the end of the reign when Pupienus spelled out his name Maximus so that people could (mis)interpret it as a title, "Maximus Augustus", to put him above his co-Augustus Pupienus.
Banti only found one single specimen of those with the Victoria reverse (listed as Banti Nr. 13).