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<p>[QUOTE="ancient coin hunter, post: 2975776, member: 87200"]My latest acquisition is a tetradrachm of Numerian struck in Alexandria, Egypt.</p><p><br /></p><p>In 282, the legions of the upper Danube in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raetia" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raetia" rel="nofollow">Raetia</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noricum" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noricum" rel="nofollow">Noricum</a> proclaimed as emperor Numerian's father, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praetorian_prefect" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praetorian_prefect" rel="nofollow">praetorian prefect</a> Marcus Aurelius <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carus" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carus" rel="nofollow">Carus</a>, beginning a rebellion against the emperor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius_Probus" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius_Probus" rel="nofollow">Probus</a>. Probus' army, stationed in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirmium" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirmium" rel="nofollow">Sirmium</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sremska_Mitrovica" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sremska_Mitrovica" rel="nofollow">Sremska Mitrovica</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbia" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbia" rel="nofollow">Serbia</a>), decided they did not wish to fight Carus and assassinated Probus instead. Carus, already sixty, wished to establish a dynasty and immediately elevated Carinus and Numerian to the rank of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar_(title)" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar_(title)" rel="nofollow">Caesar</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>In 283, Carus left Carinus in charge of the West and moved with Numerian and his praetorian prefect <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrius_Aper" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrius_Aper" rel="nofollow">Arrius Aper</a> to the East to wage war against the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sassanid_Empire" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sassanid_Empire" rel="nofollow">Sassanid Empire</a>. The Sassanids had been embroiled in a succession dispute since the death of Shapur and were in no position to oppose Carus' advance.</p><p><br /></p><p>According to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joannes_Zonaras" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joannes_Zonaras" rel="nofollow">Zonaras</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutropius_(historian)" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutropius_(historian)" rel="nofollow">Eutropius</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festus_(historian)" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festus_(historian)" rel="nofollow">Festus</a>, Carus won a major victory against the Persians, taking <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucia" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucia" rel="nofollow">Seleucia</a> and the Sassanid capital of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ctesiphon" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ctesiphon" rel="nofollow">Ctesiphon</a> (near modern <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Mada%27in" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Mada%27in" rel="nofollow">Al-Mada'in</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" rel="nofollow">Iraq</a>), cities on opposite banks of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigris" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigris" rel="nofollow">Tigris</a>. In celebration, Numerian, Carus, and Carinus all took the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_title#Roman_victory_titles" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_title#Roman_victory_titles" rel="nofollow">title</a> <i>Persici maximi</i>. Carus died in July or early August of 283, possibly due to a strike of lightning.</p><p><br /></p><p><font size="4"><b>Numerian and Carinus as Augusti</b></font></p><p>The death of Carus left Numerian and Carinus as the new Augusti. Carinus quickly made his way to Rome from Gaul, arriving in January 284, while Numerian lingered in the East.The Roman retreat from Persia was orderly and unopposed, for the Persian King, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahram_II" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahram_II" rel="nofollow">Bahram II</a>, was still struggling to establish his authority.</p><p><br /></p><p>By March 284, Numerian had only reached Emesa (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homs" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homs" rel="nofollow">Homs</a>) in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria" rel="nofollow">Syria</a>; by November, only <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia_Minor" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia_Minor" rel="nofollow">Asia Minor</a>. In Emesa he was apparently still alive and in good health, as he issued the only extant <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rescript" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rescript" rel="nofollow">rescript</a> in his name there. Coins were issued in his name in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyzicus" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyzicus" rel="nofollow">Cyzicus</a> at some time before the end of 284, but it is impossible to know whether he was still in the public eye by that point.</p><p><br /></p><p>After Emesa, Numerian's staff, including the prefect Aper, reported that Numerian suffered from an inflammation of the eyes and had to travel in a closed coach. When the army reached <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bithynia" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bithynia" rel="nofollow">Bithynia</a>, some of Numerian's soldiers smelled an odor reminiscent of a decaying corpse emanating from the coach. They opened its curtains and found Numerian dead.</p><p><br /></p><p><font size="4"><b>After Numerian's death</b></font></p><p>Aper officially broke the news of Numerian's death in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicomedia" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicomedia" rel="nofollow">Nicomedia</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%B0zmit" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%B0zmit" rel="nofollow">İzmit</a>) in November 284. Numerian's generals and tribunes called a council for the succession and chose as emperor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocletian" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocletian" rel="nofollow">Diocletian</a>, commander of the cavalry arm of the imperial bodyguard, despite Aper's attempts to garner support. The army of the east gathered on a hill outside of Nicomedia and unanimously saluted their new Augustus. Diocletian accepted the purple imperial vestments and raised his sword to the light of the sun, swearing an oath denying responsibility for Numerian's death. He asserted that Aper had killed Numerian and concealed the deed. In full view of the army, Diocletian then turned and killed Aper.</p><p><br /></p><p>Numerian, Feb/March 283 - Oct/Nov 284 A.D.</p><p><br /></p><p>Roman Provincial Egypt</p><p><br /></p><p>Billon Tetradrachm, 8.26 grams, 20.7 mm, Alexandria mint</p><p><br /></p><p>Obverse: AK M A NOVMEPIANOC CEB</p><p> Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right</p><p><br /></p><p>Reverse: Athena seated left on high backed throne, wearing crested helmet, long scepter in left hand, Nike offering wreath in right hand.</p><p><br /></p><p>I particularly enjoy the patina on this coin, as well as the finely crafted reverse.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]731065[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]731066[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Feel free to post any of your Numerians' here. Thanks for looking.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="ancient coin hunter, post: 2975776, member: 87200"]My latest acquisition is a tetradrachm of Numerian struck in Alexandria, Egypt. In 282, the legions of the upper Danube in [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raetia']Raetia[/URL] and [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noricum']Noricum[/URL] proclaimed as emperor Numerian's father, the [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praetorian_prefect']praetorian prefect[/URL] Marcus Aurelius [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carus']Carus[/URL], beginning a rebellion against the emperor [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius_Probus']Probus[/URL]. Probus' army, stationed in [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirmium']Sirmium[/URL] ([URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sremska_Mitrovica']Sremska Mitrovica[/URL], [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbia']Serbia[/URL]), decided they did not wish to fight Carus and assassinated Probus instead. Carus, already sixty, wished to establish a dynasty and immediately elevated Carinus and Numerian to the rank of [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar_(title)']Caesar[/URL]. In 283, Carus left Carinus in charge of the West and moved with Numerian and his praetorian prefect [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrius_Aper']Arrius Aper[/URL] to the East to wage war against the [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sassanid_Empire']Sassanid Empire[/URL]. The Sassanids had been embroiled in a succession dispute since the death of Shapur and were in no position to oppose Carus' advance. According to [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joannes_Zonaras']Zonaras[/URL], [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutropius_(historian)']Eutropius[/URL], and [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festus_(historian)']Festus[/URL], Carus won a major victory against the Persians, taking [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucia']Seleucia[/URL] and the Sassanid capital of [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ctesiphon']Ctesiphon[/URL] (near modern [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Mada%27in']Al-Mada'in[/URL], [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq']Iraq[/URL]), cities on opposite banks of the [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigris']Tigris[/URL]. In celebration, Numerian, Carus, and Carinus all took the [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_title#Roman_victory_titles']title[/URL] [I]Persici maximi[/I]. Carus died in July or early August of 283, possibly due to a strike of lightning. [SIZE=4][B]Numerian and Carinus as Augusti[/B][/SIZE] The death of Carus left Numerian and Carinus as the new Augusti. Carinus quickly made his way to Rome from Gaul, arriving in January 284, while Numerian lingered in the East.The Roman retreat from Persia was orderly and unopposed, for the Persian King, [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahram_II']Bahram II[/URL], was still struggling to establish his authority. By March 284, Numerian had only reached Emesa ([URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homs']Homs[/URL]) in [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria']Syria[/URL]; by November, only [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia_Minor']Asia Minor[/URL]. In Emesa he was apparently still alive and in good health, as he issued the only extant [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rescript']rescript[/URL] in his name there. Coins were issued in his name in [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyzicus']Cyzicus[/URL] at some time before the end of 284, but it is impossible to know whether he was still in the public eye by that point. After Emesa, Numerian's staff, including the prefect Aper, reported that Numerian suffered from an inflammation of the eyes and had to travel in a closed coach. When the army reached [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bithynia']Bithynia[/URL], some of Numerian's soldiers smelled an odor reminiscent of a decaying corpse emanating from the coach. They opened its curtains and found Numerian dead. [SIZE=4][B]After Numerian's death[/B][/SIZE] Aper officially broke the news of Numerian's death in [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicomedia']Nicomedia[/URL] ([URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%B0zmit']İzmit[/URL]) in November 284. Numerian's generals and tribunes called a council for the succession and chose as emperor [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocletian']Diocletian[/URL], commander of the cavalry arm of the imperial bodyguard, despite Aper's attempts to garner support. The army of the east gathered on a hill outside of Nicomedia and unanimously saluted their new Augustus. Diocletian accepted the purple imperial vestments and raised his sword to the light of the sun, swearing an oath denying responsibility for Numerian's death. He asserted that Aper had killed Numerian and concealed the deed. In full view of the army, Diocletian then turned and killed Aper. Numerian, Feb/March 283 - Oct/Nov 284 A.D. Roman Provincial Egypt Billon Tetradrachm, 8.26 grams, 20.7 mm, Alexandria mint Obverse: AK M A NOVMEPIANOC CEB Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right Reverse: Athena seated left on high backed throne, wearing crested helmet, long scepter in left hand, Nike offering wreath in right hand. I particularly enjoy the patina on this coin, as well as the finely crafted reverse. [ATTACH=full]731065[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]731066[/ATTACH] Feel free to post any of your Numerians' here. Thanks for looking.[/QUOTE]
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