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<p>[QUOTE="Bart9349, post: 1253477, member: 5682"]<b>This is a very rough draft by a non-numismatist (me) written for other non-numismatists at a non-numismatic Ancient Roman history site.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Any constructive criticism of this future post would be appreciated:</b></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Numismatic evidence shows three unsuccessful usurpers, one possible fictional usurper, and one triumphant usurper who then became Emperor.</p><p><br /></p><p>As we have discussed before, the third century of the Roman Empire is poorly documented. The century’s best historians (Cassius Dio and Herodian) become silent by AD 240. After this time, Roman history becomes a confusing haze. Numismatic evidence becomes one of the few firm anchors in the rapidly shifting tides of history from the period known as the “Third Century Crisis.”</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Phillip the Arab (AD 204-249, ruled AD 244-49) was one of the more famous emperors from this confusing period. In AD 248, he led the celebrations of the Secular Games to coincide with the 1000th anniversary of the founding of Rome.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH]135077.vB[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=CONFIG]135069[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>RIC 12 Antoninianus Obv:<b> IMPPHILIPPVSAVG</b> - Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. </p><p>Rev: <b>SAECVLARESAVGG</b> Exe: I - Lion advancing right.</p><p><br /></p><p>Unfortunately, Phillip also faced at several usurpers:</p><p><br /></p><p>In 248, the legions of the Danube rebelled and hailed <b>Pacatian</b> (Tiberius Claudius Marinus Pacatianus) emperor. There is numismatic evidence of his existence:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH]135078.vB[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=CONFIG]135070[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>RIC 5, C 6 Antoninianus Obv: <b>IMPTICLMARPACATIANVSPFAVG</b> - Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. </p><p>Rev: <b>PAXAETERNA</b> - Pax standing left, holding branch and scepter. c.248-249 (Viminacium). $5,860 4/2/01</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH]135079.vB[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=CONFIG]135071[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>RIC 6 Antoninianus Obv: <b>IMPTICLMARPACATIANVSPFIN</b> - Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.</p><p>Rev: <b>ROMAAETERANMILLETPRIMO</b> - Roma seated left, holding Victory and scepter. [Per RIC, legend for this type should be IMP TI CL MAR PACATIANVS AVG]. c.248-249 (Viminacium). $13,000 1/12/04. (The reverse legend <b>ROMAE AETER</b>[nae] <b>AN</b>[no] <b>MILL</b>[esimos] <b>ET PRIMO</b> means “the thousand and first year of eternal Rome,” referring to Rome’s recent celebration of its 1000th anniversary.)</p><p><br /></p><p>In the East, <b>Jotapian</b> (Marcus Fulvius Rufus Iotapianus) led another uprising from Syria and Cappadocia in response to unfair taxation. He, too, has numismatic evidence:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH]135080.vB[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=CONFIG]135072[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>RIC 2v Antoninianus Obv: <b>IMPCMFRIOTAPIANVSAV</b> - Radiate, cuirassed bust right.</p><p>Rev: <b>VICTORIAAVG</b> - Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. [RIC unlisted legend]. c.249 (Nicopolis). $14,500 5/21/03</p><p><br /></p><p>Two other possible usurpers are thought by some historians to have led unsuccessful rebellions: <b>Marcus Silbannacus</b> and <b>Sponsianus</b>. </p><p><br /></p><p>There is no literary evidence of Silbannacus. There is, however, at least some rare numismatic evidence of Silbannacus who is thought to have led a rebellion from the Rhine region.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH]135081.vB[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=CONFIG]135073[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>RIC 1 Antoninianus Obv: <b>IMPMARSILBANNACVSAVG</b> - Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.</p><p>Rev: <b>VICTORIAAVG</b> - Mercury standing, facing, holding Victory and caduceus. </p><p><br /></p><p>[Interestingly, the reverse of the above coin is unique in that it depicts Mercury not only holding the traditional caduceus but also a small figure of Victory.]</p><p><br /></p><p>According to dirtyoldcoins.com, there are now three Silbannacus coins known.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.dirtyoldcoins.com/roman/id/Coins-of-Roman-Emperor-Silbannacus.htm" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.dirtyoldcoins.com/roman/id/Coins-of-Roman-Emperor-Silbannacus.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.dirtyoldcoins.com/roman/id/Coins-of-Roman-Emperor-Silbannacus.htm</a></p><p><br /></p><p>On the other hand, there is no accepted literary or numismatic evidence for Sponsianus, making him a controversial, if not fictional, usurper. His aurei found in Transylvania in 1713 are thought to be modern forgeries.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.the-orb.net/romcoins/spons.jpg" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.the-orb.net/romcoins/spons.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://www.the-orb.net/romcoins/spons.jpg</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Finally, the treacherous <b>Trajan Decius</b>, after defeating the usurper Pacatian, betrayed Phillip and killed him in battle. Decius then succeeded Phillip as emperor, a dubious honor.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.dirtyoldcoins.com/roman/id/decius/dec045.jpg" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.dirtyoldcoins.com/roman/id/decius/dec045.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://www.dirtyoldcoins.com/roman/id/decius/dec045.jpg</a></p><p><br /></p><p>RIC 7a, Calicó 3301, C 108 Aureus Obv: <b>IMPTRAIANVSDECIVSAVG</b> - Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: <b>VICTORIAAVG</b> - Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. 249 (Rome). $7,494 5/10/05</p><p><br /></p><p>Only through numismatic evidence have we been able to confirm the existence of some of the otherwise-unknown usurpers (and possibly refuting the existence of another) from this confusing period of Ancient Roman history. Numismatists can help to shed light for us on Ancient Roman history, especially its more obscure chapters.</p><p><br /></p><p>guy</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>All pictures and attributions from Dirtyoldcoins.com[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Bart9349, post: 1253477, member: 5682"][B]This is a very rough draft by a non-numismatist (me) written for other non-numismatists at a non-numismatic Ancient Roman history site. Any constructive criticism of this future post would be appreciated:[/B] Numismatic evidence shows three unsuccessful usurpers, one possible fictional usurper, and one triumphant usurper who then became Emperor. As we have discussed before, the third century of the Roman Empire is poorly documented. The century’s best historians (Cassius Dio and Herodian) become silent by AD 240. After this time, Roman history becomes a confusing haze. Numismatic evidence becomes one of the few firm anchors in the rapidly shifting tides of history from the period known as the “Third Century Crisis.” Phillip the Arab (AD 204-249, ruled AD 244-49) was one of the more famous emperors from this confusing period. In AD 248, he led the celebrations of the Secular Games to coincide with the 1000th anniversary of the founding of Rome. [ATTACH]135077.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]135069[/ATTACH] RIC 12 Antoninianus Obv:[B] IMPPHILIPPVSAVG[/B] - Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: [B]SAECVLARESAVGG[/B] Exe: I - Lion advancing right. Unfortunately, Phillip also faced at several usurpers: In 248, the legions of the Danube rebelled and hailed [B]Pacatian[/B] (Tiberius Claudius Marinus Pacatianus) emperor. There is numismatic evidence of his existence: [ATTACH]135078.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]135070[/ATTACH] RIC 5, C 6 Antoninianus Obv: [B]IMPTICLMARPACATIANVSPFAVG[/B] - Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: [B]PAXAETERNA[/B] - Pax standing left, holding branch and scepter. c.248-249 (Viminacium). $5,860 4/2/01 [ATTACH]135079.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]135071[/ATTACH] RIC 6 Antoninianus Obv: [B]IMPTICLMARPACATIANVSPFIN[/B] - Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: [B]ROMAAETERANMILLETPRIMO[/B] - Roma seated left, holding Victory and scepter. [Per RIC, legend for this type should be IMP TI CL MAR PACATIANVS AVG]. c.248-249 (Viminacium). $13,000 1/12/04. (The reverse legend [B]ROMAE AETER[/B][nae] [B]AN[/B][no] [B]MILL[/B][esimos] [B]ET PRIMO[/B] means “the thousand and first year of eternal Rome,” referring to Rome’s recent celebration of its 1000th anniversary.) In the East, [B]Jotapian[/B] (Marcus Fulvius Rufus Iotapianus) led another uprising from Syria and Cappadocia in response to unfair taxation. He, too, has numismatic evidence: [ATTACH]135080.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]135072[/ATTACH] RIC 2v Antoninianus Obv: [B]IMPCMFRIOTAPIANVSAV[/B] - Radiate, cuirassed bust right. Rev: [B]VICTORIAAVG[/B] - Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. [RIC unlisted legend]. c.249 (Nicopolis). $14,500 5/21/03 Two other possible usurpers are thought by some historians to have led unsuccessful rebellions: [B]Marcus Silbannacus[/B] and [B]Sponsianus[/B]. There is no literary evidence of Silbannacus. There is, however, at least some rare numismatic evidence of Silbannacus who is thought to have led a rebellion from the Rhine region. [ATTACH]135081.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]135073[/ATTACH] RIC 1 Antoninianus Obv: [B]IMPMARSILBANNACVSAVG[/B] - Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: [B]VICTORIAAVG[/B] - Mercury standing, facing, holding Victory and caduceus. [Interestingly, the reverse of the above coin is unique in that it depicts Mercury not only holding the traditional caduceus but also a small figure of Victory.] According to dirtyoldcoins.com, there are now three Silbannacus coins known. [url]http://www.dirtyoldcoins.com/roman/id/Coins-of-Roman-Emperor-Silbannacus.htm[/url] On the other hand, there is no accepted literary or numismatic evidence for Sponsianus, making him a controversial, if not fictional, usurper. His aurei found in Transylvania in 1713 are thought to be modern forgeries. [url]http://www.the-orb.net/romcoins/spons.jpg[/url] Finally, the treacherous [B]Trajan Decius[/B], after defeating the usurper Pacatian, betrayed Phillip and killed him in battle. Decius then succeeded Phillip as emperor, a dubious honor. [url]http://www.dirtyoldcoins.com/roman/id/decius/dec045.jpg[/url] RIC 7a, Calicó 3301, C 108 Aureus Obv: [B]IMPTRAIANVSDECIVSAVG[/B] - Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: [B]VICTORIAAVG[/B] - Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. 249 (Rome). $7,494 5/10/05 Only through numismatic evidence have we been able to confirm the existence of some of the otherwise-unknown usurpers (and possibly refuting the existence of another) from this confusing period of Ancient Roman history. Numismatists can help to shed light for us on Ancient Roman history, especially its more obscure chapters. guy All pictures and attributions from Dirtyoldcoins.com[/QUOTE]
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