Tacitus - nice catch on ebay

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Tejas, Apr 16, 2021.

  1. Tejas

    Tejas Well-Known Member

    I found this nice Tacitus Antoninian on Ebay and thought it was a good buy at 46 euros. Ruling briefly in 275-276, Tacitus was an old man when he came to the throne. He is also notable for being the only emperor in about 30 emperors of the "military anarchy", who died of natural causes.


    IMP C CL TACITVS AVG // VIRTVS AVG

    I wonder, if this is from the mint of Rome or Lyon?


    Screenshot 2021-04-16 at 17.13.38.png
     
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  3. svessien

    svessien Senior Member

    Nice catch indeed, and a good addition to an already sweet Tacitus collection.
     
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  4. seth77

    seth77 Well-Known Member

    I think it's Lyon.

    tacitus virtvs.JPG
     
  5. Matthew Kruse

    Matthew Kruse Young Numismatist

    Very nice coin! It’s interesting how he was only emperor for a year! Does that mean his coins were only minted for one year?
     
  6. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    dandee catch! :)...here's my $10 one... Tacitus 275-276 001.JPG Tacitus 275-276 002.JPG
     
    cmezner, galba68, Tejas and 8 others like this.
  7. Claudius_Gothicus

    Claudius_Gothicus Well-Known Member

    Great coin, especially at that price! Here's my only Tacitus; it's not in great condition, but it's a double antoninianus from Tripolis, and they are relatively hard to find:
    IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG - CLEMENTIA TEMP.jpg
    Tacitus (275-276), Double Antoninianus, Tripolis mint.
    Obverse: IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front;
    Reverse: CLEMENTIA TEMP, Mars standing left, holding olive branch in right hand, spear and shield which rests on ground in left hand, star in left field; IA in exergue;
    RIC 214, RIC V Online 4113

    This denomination, while called "double", was not actually double the weight of the standard coins; it simply had double the silver content, as indicated by the exergue mark (IA means "10:1" in Greek, and the same is true for the Antioch version, which said XI, in Latin).

    Yes, the coins of Tacitus were only struck for the duration of his reign, as he was not deified and no emperor struck posthumous coins for him; however, this doesn't mean that his coins are particularly rare, with the exception of a few special types.
     
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  8. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Good coin. Good example!
    Tacitus I 2.jpg
    TACITUS
    Antoninianus
    OBVERSE: IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
    REVERSE: CLEMENTIA TEMP, Tacitus receiving globe from Jupiter, Z in lower centre, XXI in ex.
    Struck at Antioch, 275-6 AD
    3.2g, 22mm
    RIC 210, Z
    Tacitus I 1.jpg
    TACITUS
    Antoninianus
    OBVERSE: IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG, radiate cuirassed bust right
    REVERSE: PROVIDE AVG, Providentia standing left, holding globe & transverse sceptre, Q in ex
    Struck at Ticinum, 275-6 AD
    3.6g, 23mm
    RIC 152f, C 90
     
  9. gogili1977

    gogili1977 Well-Known Member

    Nice details on the coin.
    PAX AVGVSTI - Siscia
    image.jpg
    CONSERVAT MILIT - Serdica
    image(1).jpg
     
  10. Aestimare

    Aestimare Active Member

    Such a great sample @Tejas .
    Here's a link corresponding to your coin.
     
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  11. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    Nice score

    0500-310.jpg
    Tacitus, Antoninianus - Ticinium mint, AD 275-276
    IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG, Radiate bust of Tacitus right
    SECVRIT PERP, Securitas standing left leaning on column, retrograde µ at exergue
    4.03 gr
    Ref : RCV #11812, Cohen #131, RIC V (1) 163
    Thanks to Helvetica for RIC reference and help on exergue

    Q
     
  12. Tejas

    Tejas Well-Known Member

  13. Tejas

    Tejas Well-Known Member

    Very cool. The mint mark TR is clearly visible. This is Tripolis in Phrygia (modern Turkey).
     
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  14. Tejas

    Tejas Well-Known Member

    Thanks a lot for the link. This is very helpful.
     
  15. Tejas

    Tejas Well-Known Member

    Wow, this is a very attractive example. I love the portrait! Is the symbol in the exergue a mint mark that distinguishes the Ticinium mint?
     
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  16. Tejas

    Tejas Well-Known Member

    Tactus held the title of "Gothicus Maximus" and he issued coins celebrating his victories over the Goths. This was the reason why I was first attracted to his coins and for a long time these two were my only two Tacitus coins:

    VICTORIA GOTTHI
    Mint: Ticinium


    Screenshot 2021-04-17 at 10.45.20.png

    Screenshot 2021-04-17 at 10.45.01.png
     
  17. Tejas

    Tejas Well-Known Member

    I got this Tacitus recently (sales picture). The seller attributed it to Ticinium. Is this correct? I'm more inclined to think that the coin is from Siscia.

    Screenshot 2021-04-17 at 10.49.46.png
     
  18. maridvnvm

    maridvnvm Well-Known Member

    The OP coin is certainly Lugdunum (Lyon). I have a couple.

    Obv:– IMP C CL TACITVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
    Rev:– VIRTVS AVG, Mars standing left, holding spear and resting hand on shield
    Minted in Lugdunum (no marks), Emission 1, from October to December A.D. 275
    References:– Cohen 172, Bastien 48, RIC 69 Bust Type C

    This one was one of my ealiest Tacitus (ex Langcroft hoard). It's still in my trays somewhere but this image is poor (taken with a flatbed scanner!) as it was taken back in 2004

    RI 130r img.jpg

    A more recent version (bought as part of a mixed lot) is here.

    RI_130bh_img.jpg
     
  19. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    I guess so, at least it's what Dane told me
    Thanks for the kind words

    Q
     
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  20. Tejas

    Tejas Well-Known Member

    I also have an issue from the mint of Rome, which I bought recently in an auction.
    FIDES MILITVM

    The portrait style is quite distinctive.
    It is only recently, that I became interested in different mints and to collect mostly common coins, but from different mints.

    Screenshot 2021-04-17 at 10.53.46.png
     
  21. Tejas

    Tejas Well-Known Member

    Here is another nice example from the Ticinium mint.
    TEMPORVM FELICITAS
    I wonder what the letters A - A stand for on the reverse:


    Screenshot 2021-04-17 at 14.57.29.png
     
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