Tetricus I and Tetricus II

During the past year I have been replacing, adding and upgrading however I could. So when these two silvered Ants came up in a lot, I just had to go after them----they fully complement my more modest small bronzes and have superior portraits.

A brief history:

"During the crisis of the third century, Roman commander Postumus rebelled against Emperor Gallienus and seceded from the Empire, taking the provinces of Gaul, Hispania, Germania and Britannia from the weakened Empire. For about 14 years this 'Gallic Empire' had its own Emperor, Senate and legions until a stronger Roman Emperor defeated them and reclaimed those Provinces for Rome."

"Tetricus I took the throne in 270 AD and made his young son his Caesar, and then his Co-Emperor. They were defeated in battle against Roman Emperor Aurelian in 274 AD and dragged back to Rome in chains. Remarkably, both were treated benevolently and Tetricus I lived to an elderly age while his son was even given a seat in the Roman Senate"

Tetricus I, Silvered Antoninianus, minted at Cologne, 273-74
Radiate portrait, Salus on reverse; 20 mm, 3.64 grams
RIC V, 127

Tetricus II, Silvered Antoninianus, minted at Trier, 273-74
Radiate portrait, Spes on reverse: 21 mm, 3.2 grams
RIC V, 270

BTW, this lot cost me $42.00 shipped, which I think was almost a bargain, although the weakly struck reverses do detract a bit from the coins (In fact, the reverse of TET I looks like a hammer-headed shark LOL)...I wonder if you all agree with me???

 

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How is that not a shark?

Think those two are great.

 

Nice pick-ups at a nice price, Mikey. Weakly struck, off-center reverses are par for the course with Tetricus ants, not to mention that the engravers put very little effort into the reverse designs - it was all about the emperor's portrait. I can draw stick figures better than Tetricus reverses.

Once in a while, though, you come across a well-struck, centered coin, like this Tetricus II/Spes...



This coin also exhibits clashed dies.

 

Portrait on both are excellent. Price is fair for both too.


Tetricus I (271 - 274 A.D.)
Æ Antoninianus
O: IMP C TETRICVS P F AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right.
R: VICTORIA AVG, Victory walking left, wreath in right, palm frond in left.
Colonia Agrippinensis (Cologne, Germany) mint, 271 A.D.
3g
19mm
RIC V, part II, 139
Ex. Heritage Auction, May 8, 2014, Lot 61194 (part of)


Tetricus II (274 A.D.)
Æ Antoninianus
O: C PIV ESV TETRICVS CAES, radiate, draped bust right.
R: SPES AVGG, Spes walking left, holding flower and raising skirt.
2.9g
19mm
RIC 270

 

Wonderful posts guys!!

 

These emperors did not put out quality coins, so what you get is probably the best you can find generally speaking.
Tetricus I

Tetricus II

 

Yes Mikey, considering the average quality of those, you did quite well



Tetricus I, Antoninianus
IMP TETRICVS P F AVG, Radiate and cuirassed bust right
SALVS AVGG, Salus standing right, feeding snake
2.60 gr
Ref : Cohen # 153,



Tetricus II, Antoninianus
C PIV [ESV TETRIC]VS CAES, Radiate and draped bust right
COMES AVG, Comes standing left
1.91 gr
Ref : Cohen # 6



Tetricus II, Antoninianus
Barbarous imitation
C PIVS ESV TETRICVS CAES, Radiate bust of Tetricus right
[SP]ES AV[GG], Spes standing left holding her dress and a flower
2.8 gr
Ref : RCV #11292, Cohen #88

Q

 

Much, much nicer than your average Tetricii coins, and for a good price too. Well-scored!

I have a few in more typical shape banging about, but only have a pic of Junior's handy.

 

That is so a shark!

 

I just noticed my typo. The 'shark' is on Tet II, or Junior---but you all knew what I meant....

Hmmm, maybe it's like a Gallienus 'Zoo' series, only marine style, unpublished and worth a gazillion dollars

 

Yea yea!!

 

those are both solid coins MZ!

i picked up my first tetricus ant at a coin show today, it's pretty nice..but looks like someone took some bites out of the flan. i'll post it soon.

 

Nice => those are two great OP-additions (congrats, Mikey-Z)

sadly, I don't have a Tetricus example ... frick, I need way more coins!!

I agree with Jwt's comments => that your second OP-coin's reverse looks a bit like a hammerhead shark ...

 

I wonder if you all could be of some assistance to me.
This coin belongs to my neighbor. Someone gave it to him some years ago as a gift for some assistance he lent them. The coin appears to be a Tetricus of nominal value if authentic. The front as you can see is fair shape but the back is pretty much gone.

Any chance any of you can confirm authenticity based on the details of the photo?

 

Those are great examples, I have not photographed my Tetricus I and II yet so no pics to share.

Sadly, I just don't see the shark, but I could never find Waldo either.

 

Wait...you can't see the shark? What do you see?

 

That's totally cool Mikey, I want a hammerhead coin
I'd have to do some serious digging to find a picture of my Tetricus. I do remember I posted a thread on it some time ago. It had a bad case of the BD, it's cured and doesn't show any signs now though.

 

Spes, but I know she is supposed to be there, so I guess it makes it hard not to see her. She looks like she has a really skinny leg and a big perky boobie.

 

Tetricus II AE Antoninianus. C PIV ESV TETRICVS CAES, radiate, draped bust right / SPES AVGG, Spes walking left, holding flower and raising hem of robe.