Christmas/Hanukkah Coin - Tacitus

I just pulled the trigger on this antoninianus of Tacitus, which fills another hole in my collection. Now I just need Florianus, Quintillus, Quietus, Marius, and Gordian I and II to complete the third century of my collection.

Tacitus 275 - 276

Ӕ silvered Antoninianus, Rome, 275

21 x 23 mm - 4.07 g

IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG

Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.

R/ LAETITIA FVND

Laetitia standing left, holding wreath and anchor.
XXIB in exergue.

RIC Vi Rome 89b

large, grey silvering patina, XF



Please share your Tacitus coins or last-minute purchases of 2019!!!

 

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That coin has immaculate detail on the portrait as well as on Laetitia, better style than most Tacitus coins I have seen, and the strike is great, too. A fantastic example and a worthy last coin for 2019!

My two Taciti are both in much less stellar grade:

Tacitus, Roman Empire, AE antoninian, 275–276 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG; bust of Tacitus, radiate, draped, cuirassed, r. Rev: PROVIDENTIA AVG; Providentia, draped, standing l., holding baton in r. hand and cornucopiae in l. hand; at her feet, globe; in exergue, XXIA. 22mm, 2.97g. Ref: RIC V Tacitus 92.


Tacitus, Roman Empire, AE antoninian, 275–276 AD, Cyzicus mint. Obv: IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG; bust of Tacitus, radiate, draped, r. Rev: SPES PVBLICA; Victory, winged, draped, standing r., holding palm, presenting wreath to Tacitus, standing l., holding sceptre; in exergue, V. Ref: RIC V Tacitus 208. 21mm, 4.02g.

 

Regalian, Jotapian, Pacatian, Silbannicus, Domitian II? Seriously, completing any set requires defining that set to be as complete as we like it. I would enjoy seeing the hard ones that you do have and consider worth listing as reasonable to expect to own. I only have three on your remaining list and have no plans of ever having a Gordian I or II. I'd rather have multiples of others I find more interesting dollar for dollar. For example: Tacitus.

Low grade but INVICTVS obverse:

I can't decide which of these XI coins to keep so I keep both:


Beware, we might have a visit from the anti-neckbeard police.

 

Thanks for the input Doug. I've recused myself from going after Regalianus, Jotapianus, etc. I do have Aemilianus and Macrianus. So if and when I do get Gordian I and II and the other dudes, I'll consider it a victory. Oh, I omitted DIVO NIGRINIANO, which is another one I will get, along with Domitius Domitianus. So that's two more that I didn't mention. Maybe by the end of 2020 I will have a complete third century, well at least within the bounds of reason...

 

I think the neckbeard on this one is exceptionally clear (you can even imagine how soft and flowy it feels, @TIF, ). It’s nevertheless probably more remarkable for being one of the XI double antoniniani that did duty in @Valentinian’s metallurgical study that tested these for their silver content. This example came up with an average EDX reading of its core (tested at three spots) that indicated a silver content of 12.46%.

TACITUS
Extremely Rare. Billon Double Antoninianus. 3.84g, 23.5mm. Antioch mint. RIC 211; RIC2 temp no. 4087 (6 spec); Esty, Equall, Smith, "The Alloy of the 'XI' Coins of Tacitus", 91.68 (this coin). O: IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: CLEMENTIA TEMP, Emperor standing right holding sceptre, receiving globe from Jupiter standing left, holding sceptre; A between, XI in exergue.

And an IA:


TACITUS
Billon Double Antoninianus. 3.05g, 24mm. Tripolis mint, Jan - Jun AD 276. New RIC V/1 Online temp no. 4113. O: IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: CLEMENTIA TEMP, Mars standing left, holding Victory, spear and shield; * in left field, IA in exergue.
Ex Maple Leaf Collection

 

I know there are many things to watch for when selecting a coin for our collection but I do believe that a Tacitus absolutely, positively must show clearly the lack of hair on the point of the chin. In a perfect world, we could all have a neckbeard like that on zumbly's coin but, alas, it is not to be.

 

My ONLY Tacitus:


RI Tacitus 275-276 CE AE Ant Providentia

 

Tacitus
Antoninianus 22 mm 4.07 g
IMP CL TACITVS AVG
TEMPORVM FELICITAS
Felicitas holding long caduceus & cornucopiae
RIC 65 A-star

I think I can see the bald tip of the chin and a nice neckbeard...

 

I guess the neckbeards of the time were stylin' - but I pretty much shave mine every day.

 

nice tactius..yup, that's ein of unum...i have Quintillus of that group.. worked on the 3rd century emperors this year, but i don't think i have enough money or years left to complete it...fortunately, i can overcome my obsessive compulsive nature...or at least aim it in another direction that i can satisfy a little in the Roman category..(heck, there's always neat coins of the republic i want too)

 

Neckbeard - bare chin


Neckbeard - bare chin - tash joining the beard (he looks too young in this one)

beard extends to the tip of the chin - tash is there too

 

Crusty, but with the BEST neck beard!


Tacitus, AD 275-276.
Roman billon antoninianus, 3.57 g, 22.1 mm, 12 h.
Ticinum, AD 275-276, issue 2.
Obv: IMP C CL TACITVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
Rev: ANNONA AVGVSTI, Annona standing left, holding ears of corn over modius and cornucopiae; T (third officina) in exergue.
Refs: MER/RIC temp #3647; RIC 123; Cohen --; Estiot 2149.56; RCV 11767; La Venera hoard 1673.

 

Siscia do good beards too

 

Wonderful new, last-minute coin, ACH! It's a great feeling to capture a coin that checks a long standing box.

Here's my only Tacitus, complete with provincial neck beard, nice provenance, and filled a hole for the emperor in my Alexandrian collection...

Tacitus, Ruled 275-276 AD
AE Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria, Struck 275/276 AD
Obverse: A K K A TAKITOC CEB, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: Elpis advancing left, holding flower, raising hem of skirt, ЄTOVC A to right and left, RY 1.
References: Emmett 3975, Dattari 5516
Size: 21.3mm, 9.1g
Ex: x6 Collection

 

Billon Antoninianus
Ticinum mint
Obv: IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG
Rev: CONSERVATOR MILITVM - Emperor, standing on left, with helmet, in military dress, receiving globe from Jupiter, on right, leaning on scepter
P in exergue
RIC 134
22mm, 4.4g.

 

I am home for the holidays so I showed the Tacitus coin pic to my mother and sister. Complete lack of interest. Hmmm...that's nice. Why do I bother to collect little bits of old metal, I joked?

Got 27 likes on Facebook, though. We coin collectors are an odd breed. Thank goodness for CT!

 

And that's the truth!!!!!

 

My only Tacitus is only a notch above turd grade. (turd+)

 

Great coin. I think my last minute purchase is gona come next year :/