Postumus' Empire and the end of Roman large bronze coinage

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by GinoLR, Oct 27, 2025 at 3:05 PM.

  1. GinoLR

    GinoLR Well-Known Member

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    Postumus, AE 22 mm, 5.20 g, somewhere in Gaul 266-270.
    Obv. : illegible legend (mostly off-flan), radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Postumus right.
    Rev. : illegible legend, draped figure standing left, holding two standards (?) (type Fides militum).

    In 260 "practically no new bronze coins had reached the western frontier since the Antonine period. By providing a fresh supply of bronze coins, Postumus succeded where the central administration had failed" (Philip Kiernan). Pierre Bastien's study of the coinage of Postumus distinguished 4 kinds of double-sestertii : The regular mint of Cologne or Trier (260-262), the unofficial important workshop called "Atelier II" (262-266), "Diverse imitations" (266-270) and "cast reductions" produced by impressing larger struck coins in wet clay moulds, which shrank as they dried.

    It is obvious that the important output of the regular Trier or Cologne mint was badly needed in the "Gallic Empire". When it stopped producing large bronze coins to concentrate on gold or antoniniani, the unofficial "Atelier II" opened somewhere and its production circulated in Gaul and Germany alongside old worn-out Antonine sestertii and official Postumian bronzes. Progressively other unofficial workshops minted very degraded double-sestertii, until 270 when large bronze was generally abandoned. We don't know who was behind the unofficial imitative mints but it seems they were not considered illegal.

    This coin of just 22 mm and 5.2 g must belong to the "Atelier II" or "Diverse imitations". Several hoards are known containing these Postumus unofficial coins, and "double-sestertii" of this reduced module and weight represented 10-12% of two of these hoards. It may be dated 262-270, probably near 270.

    Please post your Postumian large bronzes, especially the imitations !
     
    Bing likes this.
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