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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Julius Germanicus, post: 3111826, member: 80783&quot;]My new Pupienus Sestertius arrived today and I it feels quite nice in hand - I can even tolerate the patina <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> - plus it is quite hefty for a large bronze of it´s time:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]789720[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>IMP CAES M CLOD PVPIENVS AVG - Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind</p><p>VICTORIA AVGG - Victory standing facing, her head turned left, holding wreath in her right hand and drapery and palm frond in left; S-C across fields</p><p>Sestertius, Rome, 22. April – 29. July AD 238</p><p>32 mm / 23.82 g</p><p>RIC 23a, BMC 58, Cohen 38, Sear 8539, Banti 12 (35 specimens)</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]789721[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Marcus Clodius Pupienus Maximus was the younger of the two joint emperors who were elected by the Senate on April 22, 238 (if we follow the chronology proposed by Carson and followed by Sear), in response to the receipt of the news of the failure of the uprising in North Africa and the death of both Gordian I and II.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]789730[/ATTACH] </p><p>Sestertius of Gordian I</p><p><br /></p><p>Pupienus must have possessed greater military experience than his co-emperor Balbinus, for it was he who was given responsibility for the defense of Italy against Maximinus Thrax, while Balbinus took responsibility for the civil administration.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]789739[/ATTACH] </p><p>Sestertius of Balbinus</p><p><br /></p><p>The Victoria Reverse was introduced later in Pupienus´ and Balbinus join reign and appears on the bronze coinage (Sestertius and rare Dupondius) only.</p><p>It celebrates the victory over Maximinus Thrax, who was slain by his troops on June 24, 238 (date according to Carson) during the siege of Aquileia. Pupienus had just reached Ravenna and was still busy assembling troops, when a delegation presented him the heads of Maximinus and his son, the Caesar Maximus.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]789731[/ATTACH] </p><p>Sestertius of Maximinus I Thrax</p><p><br /></p><p>According to William Henry Smyth (1834), the Victory type was struck <i>„on the delivery of Rome, from the horrible threats of Maximinus. The express who brought the joyful tidings of the monster´s death, arrived in only four days from Aquilea, having travelled with unparalleled rapidity. The most extravagant exultation prevailed among all ranks of people: and when Pupienus returned, Balbinus, Gordian (III.), the Senate, and the whole city, went out to meet and conduct him in triumph to the palace“.</i></p><p><br /></p><p>Little more than a month later, the incompetent and unpopular senatorial nominees were set upon by the praetorian guard and brutally murdered after a reign of only 99 days, on July 29, 238. 13 year old Gordian III was hailed as the new Augustus.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]789733[/ATTACH] </p><p>Sestertius of Gordian III</p><p><br /></p><p>My first Sestertius of Pupienus was presumably a 19th century cast (I was able to return it to the seller but they resold it as genuine in one of their next auction despite it being condemned as a forgery by Sear):</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]789741[/ATTACH] </p><p>Sestertius of Pupienus (cast forgery?)</p><p><br /></p><p>I hope to have no such issues with my new acquisition and am happy to fill the vacancy. Next in line will for me will be a neat Maximus Caesar (the one I have is not nice enough to show here) and sometime I hope to lay my hands on Gordian II to complete my Sestertius set of the year of the six Emperors (and one Caesar).[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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