Tacitus, a roman senator , appointed Emperor by the senate in 275 AD at the age of 75 ! Together with his brother Florian he went to battle and succesfully defeated the Goths in Asia minor (Turkey) On his way back to Rome he died in Cappadocia in July 276 after only 6 months in the purple. His brother Florian seized power but was killed by Probus (276-282) within 2 months.
Very powerful portrait of his, congrats for a nice find. Both brothers : Tacitus, Antoninianus minted in Ticinium, AD 275-276 IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG, Radiate bust of Tacitus right SECVRIT PERP, Securitas standing left leaning on column, retrograde µ at exergue 4.03 gr Ref : RCV #11812, Cohen #131, RIC V (1) 163 Thanks to Helvetica for RIC reference and help on exergue Florianus, Antoninianus Lyon mint, 3rd emission, 1st officina IMP C M AN FLORIANVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right seen from front (A) TEMPORVM FELICITAS, Felicitas standing raight, holding caduceus in right hand and cornucopia in left hand. I at exergue (1st officina) 4.1 gr Ref : RCV # 11874v., Bastien # 146 pl. XVI, RIC # 12, C # 89, La Venèra hoard # II.2/2632 Q
It is interesting to note that he is sometimes depicted as being much more youthful than his 75 years would indicate. Tacitus Antoninianus Obv:– IMP C CL TACITVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev:– PROVID DEOR, Providentia standing left, holding baton and cornucopia; at foot, globe Minted in Lugdunum (no marks), Emission 1, from October to December A.D. 275 References:– Cohen 64. Bastien 41. RIC 49 Bust Type C
Here is the favourite Florian in my collection. 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
I find the portrait on the OP coin interesting. It looks very different from any other Tacitus I've seen. My first thought was that the celator didn't know what Tacitus looked like and so, used a portrait of the preceding emperor. But Tacitus followed Aurelian, and there's clearly no resemblance, so I wonder who they used as a model. Anyway, here's my Tacitus: Billon Antoninianus Ticinum mint Obv: IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG Rev: CONSERVATOR MILITVM - Emperor, standing on left, with helmet in military dress, receiving globe from Jupiter, on right, ;leaning on scepter P in exergue RIC 134 22mm, 4.4g. and my Florian: Billon Antoninianus Rome mint Obv: IMP C FLORIANVS AVG Rev: SALVS AVG - Salus, standing left, holding scepter and feeding snake rising up from altar XXIΔ in exergue RIC 40 23mm, 3.7g.
That's a well struck and desirable coin @Andres2 TACITUS Antoninianus OBVERSE: IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right REVERSE: CLEMENTIA TEMP, Tacitus receiving globe from Jupiter, Z in lower centre, XXI in ex. Struck at Antioch, 275-6 AD 3.2g, 22mm RIC 210, Z TACITUS Antoninianus OBVERSE: IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG, radiate cuirassed bust right REVERSE: PROVIDE AVG, Providentia standing left, holding globe & transverse sceptre, Q in ex Struck at Ticinum, 275-6 AD 3.6g, 23mm RIC 152f, C 90 FLORIANUS Antoninianus OBVERSE: IMP FLORIANVS AVG, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right REVERSE: CONCORDIA MILITVM, Victory standing right presenting wreath to Florian standing left. Q in ex. Struck at Cyzicus, 276 AD 2.9g, 21mm RIC 116q FLORIANUS Silvered Antoninianus OBVERSE: IMP FLORIANVS AVG, radiate, cuirassed and draped with paludamentum bust r REVERSE: 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 Q in ex. Struck at 4th officina, Cyzicus mint, July-August 276AD. 4.4g, 20mm RIC V-1 116, RIC Online #4533
Nice coins and cool history write-up @Andres2 , thanks! RI Tacitus 275-276 CE AE Ant Providentia RI Florianus Jul-Aug 276 CE AE23 Ant Concord-Milit Killer Probus: RI Probus 276-282 CE Ant 21mm Riding Horse
It is also worth noting here that Tacitus makes an interesting denomination available to the collector. This is the "double antoninianus". These were produced in Antioch and Tripolis and are differentiated by their different valus mark. In Antioch we see the use of XI as opposed to XXI and in Tripolis we see the use of IA instead of KA.. Tacitus - Double Antoninianus Obv:– IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev:– CLEMENTIA TEMP, Emperor in military dress standing right, holding short eagle-tipped sceptre in left hand, receiving a globe from Jupiter standing left, holding long sceptre in left hand Minted in Antioch (H//XI) Emission 3, Officina 8. January – June A.D. 276 Reference:– RIC 211 Bust Type C. RIC Temp No. 4096 Tacitus - Double Antoninianus Obv:– IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev:– CLEMENTIA TEMP, Mars in military dress stg. (or walking) left, holding olive branch in right hand, spear and shield which rests on ground in left hand Minted in Tripolis (* | _ //IA) Emission 2. January – June A.D. 276 Reference:– RIC 214 Bust Type C (R). Estiot Temp No. 4114 (11 examples)
Tacitus, AD 275-276 Roman billon antoninianus; 3.57 gm, 21.1 mm Ticinum, AD 276 Obv: IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust, right Rev: VICTORIA GOTTHI, Victoria standing left, holding wreath and palm; P in exergue Refs: RIC 172; Cohen 158; Sear 11821; Hunter 59; CBN 1676
Nice coins, everyone. Tacitus (275 - 276 A.D.) Æ(S) Antoninianus O: IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: SECVRIT PERP, Securitas standing left, leaning on column. Ticinum mint 4.42g 22mm RCV #11812, Cohen #131, RIC V (1) 163
I love the portrait on the OP coin. I've always thought whomever recorded 75 as being Tacitus's age simply got it wrong. My Tacitus XI double antoninianus.
Interesting indeed, I haven't done much research on the guy myself and wouldn't have thought 75 years old. My only Tacitus is an Alexandrian Tet which was one of my first ancients.
Lots of fantastic portraits in this thread. I especially like @Cucumbor's Florian and both the OP and @maridvnvm's Tacitus. Ticinum, RIC 145 RIC V 82 (Ticinum mint; later scholarship shows it's actually from Siscia):
That is also my take on the matter. There are really a lot of interesting portrait variations for a ruler on the scene for so short a time. It would make a good specialty collection. INVICTVS in obverse legend I never found an IA but have the XI. I have a stronger attraction to the KA mints and tend to find usually favored Antioch style in a boring period during the time of Tacitus. PROVIDEN DEOR - my only Florianus
