Just picked this one up, as I had yet to have a Florian in my collection. Florianus (Latin: Marcus Annius Florianus Augustus; died 276), also known as Florian, was Roman Emperor from July to September of the year 276 A.D. He was born, according to the chronicler Aurelius Victor, in a Danube province around the year 220 A.D. Considering the brevity of his reign, (3 months) he issued a wide variety of reverse types. He was reputedly the maternal half-brother of Tacitus, who was proclaimed emperor in late 275, after the unexpected death of Emperor Aurelian. At the time Florian was appointed as the Praetorian prefect. After Tacitus died in July 276, allegedly assassinated as a consequence of a military plot, Florianus proclaimed himself emperor, with the recognition of the Roman Senate and much of the empire. However, Florianus soon had to deal with the revolt of Probus, who rose up shortly after Florianus ascended the throne, with the backing of the provinces Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and Phoenicia. Probus took advantage of the terrain of the Cilician Gates in Asia Minor, and the hot summer sun of the area, which baked Florianus' army and reduced their morale. As the summer wound down in September Florian's army switched allegiance to Probus, a powerful military commander, and killed him, invalidating Florian's CONCORDIA MILITVM reverses on his antoniniani. Type: Silvered AE antoninianus, 23mm 4.1 grams, bulk of silvering intact. Obverse: IMP FLORIANVS AVG, Radiate portrait right, draped and cuirassed. Reverse: CONCORDIA MILITVM, Victory standing right, presenting wreath of victory to Florian standing opposite and holding spear. Mintmark: S. (Cyzicus) Reference: Cohen 15; Sear 11853. Please post any Florians or relevant coins of this troubled period.
Here's one of Florian, also from Cyzicus and also with a CONCORDIA MILITVM reverse. The only difference between our coins is the officina. Yours was made by the second officina (S = secunda), mine by the third (T = tertiae). I suppose there was "harmony of the soldiers" -- until they switched sides and killed him! Florian, AD 276. Roman billon Aurelianus, 3.28 g, 21.2 mm, 12 h. Cyzicus, officina 3; issue 1, AD 276. Obv: IMP FLORIANVS AVG, Bust right, radiate, cuirassed and draped with paludamentum. Rev: CONCORDIA MILITVM, Victory stg. r., holding wreath in r. hand and palm against l. shoulder, facing Emperor in military dress stg. l., r. hand outstretched and holding long sceptre in l. hand; T in exergue. Refs: RIC 116; MER/RIC temp #4530; Cohen 15; CBN 1982-3; RCV 11853; Hunter 20.
A nice addition. Florian (276 A.D.) Æ(S) Antoninianus O: IMP C M ANN FLORIANVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right. R: PROVIDEN DEOR, Providentia standing right, holding two ensigns, facing Sol standing left, raising right hand and holding globe; star in lower centre, mintmark –/–//KA(•)Γ(•). Serdica Mint 22.6mm 3.56g RIC 111, BNC p.408 http://www.ric.mom.fr/en/coin/4480?idType=4480 Published on Wildwinds!
Very nice with almost all the silvering still present! I've had several, but only one permanent resident IMP C M ANN FLORIANVS AVG, Radiare cuirassed bust right PROVIDEN DEOR / * / KH-Delta, Sol reaches for high five from Fides, who is too busy holding standards Serdicca mint
I only have one Florian but the circumstances might make a Concordia Militum the better choice for those only having one.
Nice coin! Great to see a lot of silvering on yours. It is amazing that such a short time as Emperor, several coins have been found. RI Florianus Jul-Aug 276 CE AE23 Concord-Milit AE Antoninianus 4.2g, IMP C M AN FLORIANVS P AVG radiate Siscia RIC 57 Ex: @seth77
Love those short-reigns. They fascinate me. Here's the only Florian I've had. Roughish surfaces, but a nice lifelike portrait, in my opinion.
Great Florian coins everyone. I have a few in terrible shape... this is my one nice one. Florianus RIC 116
I have generally collected Lugdunum mint issues of Florian and have about a dozen or so mostly in not great condition. Here are a couple at the better end:- These coins probably deserve an update to their images Florian Antoninianus Obv:– IMP C M AN FLORIANVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev:– VIRTVS AVGVSTI, Emperor advancing right, holding a shield and spear, treading down captive. Minted in Lugdunum (IIII in exe) Emission 3 Officina 4, from September to October A.D. 276 Reference:– Cohen 107. Bastien 150. RIC 16 Bust type C Fully silvered with some silvering having transitioned to a golden tone. Obv:– IMP C M AN FLORIANVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev:– PACATOR ORBIS, Sol running left, holding up right hand, whip in left Minted in Lugdunum (//III) Emission 3 Officina 3. August A.D. 276 Reference:– RIC 7 Bust type F. Cohen 46. Bastien 137 My ONLY non Lugdunum Florian that I have ever bought was a coin with the fuller ANNIVS obverse legend Obv:– IMP M ANNIVS FLORIANVS AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right Rev:– SALVS PVBLI, Salus standing right, feeding serpent held in arms Minted in Ticinum (//T) Reference:– RIC Unlisted near 93 Bust type F (Unlisted with this obverse legend in RIC). RIC Temp 4160 (1 example, this coin - http://www.ric.mom.fr/en/coin/4160)
Here are two coins of Florianus from my collection. I show these coins because of the very different bust styles. On the second coin below, Florianus looks entirely like his half-brother Tacitus. I guess the celators initially didn't know how he looked and assumed that he must resemble his half-brother. The first coin shows an entirely different portrait, which is probably much closer to Florian's true appearance.