Compared to the debased & wretched looking coinage of the emperor Gallienus, the coinage of Postumus is a joy to look at. His coinage like that of Gallienus, is plentiful & handsome looking double denarii are not that expensive. No denarii or bronze as coinage was struck during his reign, but he did strike gold aurei, billon double denarii (antoniniani) bronze sestertii, & double sestertii. Pictured below are examples of some his coinage. Romano-Gallic Empire, Marcus Cassianius Latinius Postumus, AD 260-269, Treveri Mint (Trier, Germany), 3rd emission, AD 261. AE Sestertius: 32 mm, 25.5 gm, 6 h. Obverse: Laurate, cuirassed, & draped bust facing right, IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG. Reverse: Victory striding left while holding a wreath & palm branch in her other hand. A captive is seated on the ground, VICTORIA AVG. RIC V 170. Al Kowsky Collection. Postumus, AD 260-269 (struck AD 261), Treveri Mint. AE Double Sestertius: 30 mm, 16.11 gm, 12 h. The reverse is the same type as my sestertius. A radiate crown distinguishes this denomination. Oddly, the double sestertius almost always weighs less than the sestertius . Photo courtesy of Roma Numismatics Limited. Ex Al Kowsky Collection Postumus, AD 260-269 (struck AD 261), Treveri Mint. Billon Antoninianus: 23 mm, 4.57 gm, 6 h. Reverse: Roman galley moving right, LAETITIA AVG. RIC V 73. Photo courtesy of Bertolami Fine Arts. Postumus, AD 260-269 (struck AD 268) Treveri Mint. Billon Antoninianus: 20 mm, 3.27 gm, 12 h. Reverse: Pax holding olive branch & scepter, PAX AVG. RIC V.2 318. Photo courtesy of Roma Numismatics Limited. Postumus, AD 260-260 (struck AD 261), Treveri Mint. AV Aureus: 21 mm, 6.69 gm, 6 h. Reverse: Postumus seated on a curule chair, holding a role & extending a hand towards a small figure before him. It commemorates the "dutiful generosity" of Postumus, presumably exercised when he celebrated his quinquennalia. This unique coin was donated to the British Museum by Edward Wigan in 1864. It has the finest portrait executed on a Roman coin in the 3rd century. Why the coin was holed remains a mystery. Postumus, AD 260-269 (struck c. AD 269) Cologne Mint. AV Aureus: 20 mm, 5.79 gm, 7 h. Obverse: Jugate busts of Postumus & Hercules, POSTVMVS PIVS FELIX AVG. Reverse: Hercules fighting the Nemean lion, HERCVILI NEMAEO. Ex Nelson Bunker Hunt Collection. Gold aurie like these coins were often put into elaborate pendant mounts & given to high ranking officials. These three treasures were recently stolen from a Paris museum . This interesting gold plated phantasy of a Postumus aureus was made by the renown German forger Carl Wilhelm Becker, 1772-1830. If any CT members have interesting coins of Postumus, you're welcome to post them on this thread .
Very nice! I have a few but here is my favorite: Postumus, AD 260-269 AE “Double" Sestertius, 33mm, 24.9g, 12h; Colonia Agrippinensis or Treveri mint. Obv.: IMP C M CASS LAT POSTVMVS P F AVG; Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev.: LAETITIA AVG (AVG in exergue); Galley left, four rowers and steersman
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
@Al Kowsky Really nice write up and presentation. On the Aureus that shows Postumus and Hercules, what is the indication that it was struck at the Cologne mint? Just curious.
All of my coins of Postumus are interesting to me. He was such a fine looking fellow. I do find it interesting that many of his laureate head sestertii weigh more than his radiate doubles. Example: the pair shown here by Al. Some things remain a mystery. More than a few of his bronzes were overstruck on Antonine period sestertii. Here we see the outline of Antoninus Pius just right of Postumus' forehead. The smaller letters were from the Pius (IVSAVG left of heads) while the larger letters belong to Postumus. The reverse galley is over a Pius reverse I can not identify. Help, please? I do not know which of my ants is my favorite but the Salus below is attractive and complete. The IOVI STATORI has good die work but was not as well struck. IOVI VICTORI is from the later period when the alloy was much less silver.
Fantastic write-up, @Al Kowsky, with gorgeous coins illustrated! My favorite Postumus is this one, because it has the personification of the Rhine River on it. Postumus, AD 260-269. Roman billon antoninianus, 2.54 g, 22.4 mm, 12 h. Trier (some attribute to Cologne), 1st emission, 2nd phase, AD 260-261. Obv: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: SALVS PROVINCIARVM, river god Rhinus, bearded and horned, reclining left, resting right hand on boat and holding anchor in left, left arm resting on urn. Refs: RIC 87; RSC 355b; Mairat 1-5; RCV 10991; AGK 88c; De Witte 290; Hunter p. lxxxviii.
tibor, That's a good question I have no answer for . I got my info from Sotheby's, who did an extensive two page writeup on the coin in their auction catalog.
Jwt708, I love the obverse on that coin , it's an unusually heavy example for a double sestertius too. That reverse design was also used on double denarii & sestertii.
Doug, That's an interesting group of coins, especially the overstrike . I've heard a number of collectors remark that Postumus reminds them of Santa Claus . The action figure of Jupiter is well done for a late coin .
Mat, That's an excellent late example from the Lugdunum Mint, my favorite mint during the Diocletian era .
R.C. That's a very interesting & controversial coin type, as most examples attributed to the Cologne Mint are .
@Al Kowsky ........Super looking coins and thoroughly enjoyed the write up Thanks! This is my favourite, it was cheap but I really like the portrait. Postumus, Antoninianus (21mm), 260-269, Trier. Obverse- Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG Reverse- Serapis standing left, raising hand & holding sceptre; prow at his feet to left SERAPI COMITI AVG RIC-329 Trier mint (AD 267)
From my very first lot of ancient coins 19.9 mm 2.38 g Postumus (260-269 A.D.) Billon Antoninianus Colonia Agrippina (Cologne, Germany) mint, (ca. 260-61 A.D.) Obv: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, radiate, draped &cuirassed bust of Postumus right Rev: IOVI VICTORI, Jupiter walking right, hurling a thunderbolt RIC 311
Those are some very nice coins, Al. Here's an early HERC DEVSONIENSI issue with the less common "lean" portrait. Hercules on the reverse on the other hand looks incredibly buff. POSTUMUS Billon Antoninianus. 4.34g, 23.8mm. Trier mint, 1st emission, 3rd phase, AD 260-261. RIC V 64; Mairat 12-7; AGK 25; RSC 9. O: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. R: HERC DEVSONIENSI, Hercules standing right, holding bow and lion's skin in left hand and club in right hand. Ex E.E. Clain-Stefanelli Collection
Some very nice coins on this thread! I've got a bunch of them, but these are the only ones I have on my computer Postumus - SAECVLI FELICITAS. Postumus struck under Aureolus. I bought this on eBay for about £12 a few months ago, and it was described as just a regular Postumus (shame about the crack though)
Harry, Nice score on the eBay sleeper ! I like the reverse design on your 1st coin with Postumus holding the spear & globe.
Nice thread! The first sestertius of yours is great. Postumus did strike some denarii but all of them are very rare, even if there are a few dozen different reverses. They were not meant to be actual circulation coinage but more like special coins given to his soldiers. Here are some of my Postumus Trier, 266-267 IMP C POSTVMVS AVG / FORTVNA AVG Cunetio 2423 (2 ex.) ; Elmer 384 ; Mairat 340 Much scarcer than the standing fortuna. Cologne, 268 IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG / IOVI VICTORI Mairat 481 ; Cunetio 2468 ; Elmer 571 ; RIC 311 Ae double sestertius, Mint II (irregular mint), 264-266 IM C M CA POSTVMVS P F AVG (sic) / LATITIA AVG (sic) 13,42g Bastien 346 ; Méricourt-L'abbé 25 (same dies) ; Néry 37 (same dies) Milan (by Aureolus), 268 IMP POSTVMVS AVG / FIDES EQVIT | P Mairat 498 ; Cunetio 2480 Trier, 266-267 IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG / PAX AVGVSTI AGK 54 ; Cunetio 2438 (4 ex.) ; Elmer 300 ; RIC 79 ; Mairat 368 Much scarcer than the shortened PAX AVG reverse.
Choucas, Thanks for the denarii info & posting a great group of coins ! You're obviously a serious collector Postumus coinage. I'm elated but not surprised to see so many CT members post such great coins . All the Gallic Usurpers form an interesting chapter in Roman history.