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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Nemo, post: 2577357, member: 58462&quot;]<span style="color: #000000">Here is a coin I recently purchased. It is ex-Forvm Ancient Coins (They are running a 10% off sale btw) and I enjoyed the little blurb from the Forvm catalogue describing the reverse as &quot;ironic.&quot; </span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000">Which single coin in your collection has the most ironic reverse?</span></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]558860[/ATTACH] </p><p>Pupienus silver antoninianus, Rome mint, weight 2.927g, maximum diameter 22.0mm, die axis 180o.</p><p>O: IMP CAES PVPIEN MAXIMVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.</p><p>R: AMOR MVTVVS AVGG (Mutual Love of the Emperors), clasped hands.</p><p>- SRCV III 8518; RIC IV, part 2, 9b; RSC III 2; BMCRE VI 82, ex-ForvmAncientCoins.</p><p><br /></p><p>A.D. 238 was the year of six emperors. Maximinus Thrax was killed (along with his son Maximus Caesar) when his soldiers mutinied. Gordian II was killed in battle. Gordian I hanged himself. Pupienus and Balbinus were killed by the Praetorians. Gordian III lived to become sole emperor.</p><p><br /></p><p>The ironic reverse of this coin refers to the mutual affection and friendship of the co-emperors Balbinus and Pupienus. </p><p><br /></p><p>After learning that the praetorians planned to storm the palace, Pupienus pleaded with Balbinus to summon the German bodyguard. Balbinus, for his part, fearful that the whole affair was being staged by Pupienus to assassinate him, refused, and a fierce argument broke out between the two just as the guard, in a murderous rage, burst into the room, seized both emperors and dragged them back to their camp where, amid a hail of sword-blows and insults, they were hacked to death. They were both murdered after a reign of only 99 days.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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