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<p>[QUOTE="Ocatarinetabellatchitchix, post: 8180326, member: 99554"]We know almost nothing about the Gallic Empire, since only few written documents have survived until our modern days ; what was the truth 100 years ago has completely changed, and today a large part of what we believe is based on speculation and circumstantial proofs. So let’s have fun and be sceptical a bit…</p><p><br /></p><p><b>The official story</b></p><p>Aureolus, "Magister Equity" for 260 AD, entered in 267 in Gaul with Gallienus to regain the "Pars Occidentalis" of the Empire. Injured Gallienus returned to Italy, leaving Aureolus who was defeated. Feeling betrayed and taking advantage of what Gallienus was protecting the empire against the Goths, Aureolus was able to establish in Milan, and throughout northern Italy, a military government. He allied with Postumus and shut himself up in Milan and had coins minted in the latter's name in the Lombard capital. Gallienus ran and besieged Aureolus but he was murdered at the instigation of the new master of the horse, Claudius II, who left then kill the besieged to whom he had promised life saves against his surrender.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The ancient texts do not agree on the defection of Aureolus, nor on his death, nor on that of Gallienus. In no ancient text it is said that Aureolus took the partit of Postumus, but rather that he prized the purple for himself.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>The facts</b></p><p>ZOSIMUS (500 AD) Historia Nova, book I, XL: "<i>Such was the situation in the East when one announces to Gallien, who continued to war against the Scythians, that Auréolus, commander of all the cavalry, who had received the order to watch in the city of Milan, the arrival in Italy of Postumus, thought of revolting and claiming power for himself ... (...) Gallienus, on his way to Italy, is the victim of the following plot. . "XLI" However, Aureolus, who for a long time had withdrawn from the authority of Gallienus, immediately sent an embassy to Claudius, surrendered and was assassinated by the soldiers who were with the emperor and who were angry at because of his defection.</i> "</p><p><br /></p><p>AURELIUS VICTOR (360 AD), De Caesaribus, XXXIII, Licinius Gallien and Salonin. "<i>Aureolus, commander of the legions of Rhaetia, encouraged, as it should have been, by the indolence of such a cowardly emperor, had seized power, and marched straight on Rome. Gallienus defeats him near the bridge called of his name the bridge of Aureolus, forced him to take refuge in Milan; and, while he attacks this place with machines of all kinds, he is killed by his own soldiers. Here is how: Aureolus, despairing of raising the siege , cunningly draws up false lists, in which he inscribes the names of the chiefs and tribunes of Gallienus's army, whom the emperor is supposed to want to destroy; then these tablets are thrown, as mysteriously as possible, at the foot of the walls Chance dictates that they are found by those whose names they bear; seized with fear, they suspect that a death warrant has been signed against them, and that the negligence of Gallien's henchmen alone could have brought him down. hands. Immediately, on the advice of Aurelian, who enjoyed, in the mée, of the highest consideration, they spread the false news of an exit of the besieged. As always happens in times of confusion and surprise, Gallienus comes out of his tent, unguarded and in the midst of the darkness of the night; and then he is struck by a line which pierces him through and through, without one being able, in the darkness, to recognize the hand which unchecked him.</i></p><p><br /></p><p>HISTORIA AUGUSTAE (395 AD ?), The thirty tyrants, XI, Aureolus: "<i>He then becomes a powerful emperor and Gallienus, after having vainly tried to reduce this brave man, made peace with him when fighting against Postumus.</i>"</p><p><br /></p><p>ZONARAS (1120 AD),Gallienus: "<i>Aureolus, who as we have already said in command of the cavalry and possessed great power, formed a new conspiracy against Gallienus, seized Milan and prepared for battle. The emperor having amassed all his forces and charged the rebel's troops, cut to pieces a large number, even wounded Aureolus and forced him to shut himself up in Milan where he besieged him ... (...) As Aureolus marched towards Italy at the head of the legions of Gaul which he commanded ... "Claudius:" Gallienus having been killed in this way, Claudius was elected emperor, and Aureolus gave up arms, submitting to his obedience. But having since made new plans for revolt , he was massacred by the soldiers.</i> "</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>In this passage, Zonaras suggests that Aureolus was at the head of the armies of Gaul and therefore seems to be the only ancient text which implies a rallying of Aureolus to the cause of Postumus.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1430038[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>The coinage</b></p><p>We do not know of any coins in the name of Aureolus himself. Many numismatists have presented since the 17th century specimens attributed to Aureolus as Augustus. Most of them have been considered as counterfeit by Eckhel and Cohen later said that he hasn't been able to find only one genuine example. Only Banduri in 1718 asserted that he had examined during his research "ein authentische Münzen des Aureolus". Here are two of them from the Cabinet des Médailles in Paris :</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1430036[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1430037[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>History does not record an occupation of Milan by Postumus , but some scholars believed in the past that he may have held it for a short period of time as the result of a cavalry raid, which could be a possible explanation for the existence of these coins. Here is an interesting fact: a century ago, the popular idea was that Tarraco was the mint who produced these issues.</p><p><br /></p><p>A.Alföldi was the first in 1927 to assigned to the revolt of Aureolus an issue of antoniniani in Milanese style, with reverses showing the valor and fidelity of the cavalry, coupled with obverse portrait of Postumus on the assumption that Aureolus declared for the Gallic emperor Postumus upon rebelling against Gallienus. This attribution has been generally accepted until now. Alföldi has pointed out that Aureolus, Gallienus’s Magister Equitum, betrayed Gallienus and struck coins at Milan in Postumus’s name. Coins of this mint are distinguished by a very particular style and fabric, very different of the coins of the Gallic Empire mints.</p><p><br /></p><p>Most authors distinguish five different issues for Aureolus in the name of Postume in Milan which would span the period 267-268 AD. It is possible that all emissions were only minted in 268, between the months of February and May. These monetary strikes are divided into five issues. The first two are characterized by a diameter and a greater weight than the last. Schulzki isolated only four emissions, but with two phases for the second emission. All reverse legends always end with Aequit, Equit or Equitum' in honor of Aureolus who was the general-in-chief of the Milan cavalry, an elite body created by Gallienus in 260 AD. Alföldi isolated a part of Postumus’s coinage with very distinct features: these coins are late radiates, with a low silver content, and a very distinct portrait, style and fabric. These characteristics are undoubtedly the same as the latest coins of Gallienus minted at Milan with the letter M(ediolanum) in the exergue; and they are also similar to the first radiates issued by Claudius II at Milan, with which they share the reverse type SALVS AVG – Aesculapius – issued by the P(rima) officina. Alföldi’s attribution of these coins to Milan is hardly contestable and has since been fully accepted.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>The sub-collection</b></p><p>One of my main goal in 2021 was to assemble a sub-collection of Postumus / Aureolus coinage. I was not aiming all variants in reverse legends nor all officinaes for each type (P,S,T), but rather the 6 different reverse types in the best condition possible. Are these coins rare ? Not at all as you will see with the numbers of different obverse and reverse dies listed. Are they expensive to buy ? Yes they can be, especially since we’re in the crazy COVID era. So here they are :</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1430042[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>IMP POSTVMVS PF AVG / VIRTVS EQVITVM</p><p><br /></p><p>Hercules, lion skin over left arm, leaning on club.</p><p><br /></p><p>3.59g 18mm Issue 4 Officinae S</p><p><br /></p><p>Doyen listed 11 different obverse dies and 14 reverse dies</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1430040[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>IMP POSTVMVS AVG / VIRTVS EQVIT</p><p><br /></p><p>Mars holding spear & shield</p><p><br /></p><p>3.26g. 19mm Issue 2 Officinae T</p><p><br /></p><p>132 obverse dies and 143 reverse</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1430041[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>IMP POSTVMVS AVG / CONCORD EQVIT</p><p><br /></p><p>Concordia, holding rudder & patera, prow of ship at feet.</p><p><br /></p><p>2.94g. 19mm. Issue 2 Officinae S</p><p><br /></p><p>113 obverse dies and 110 reverse</p><p><br /></p><p>This reverse is very interesting: the Concordia pours a patera onto the prow of a ship at its feet. In this way, the allusion is made between the Aureolus cavalry and the fleet.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1430043[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>IMP POSTVMVS AVG / FIDES EQVIT</p><p><br /></p><p>Fides seated, holding patera and standard.</p><p><br /></p><p>4.00g 19mm Issue 2 Officinae P</p><p><br /></p><p>127 obverse dies and 135 reverse</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1430039[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>IMP C POSTVMVS PF AVG / PAX EQVITVM</p><p><br /></p><p>Pax holding olive branch & transverse sceptre.</p><p><br /></p><p>3.60g 20mm Issue 4 Officinae T</p><p><br /></p><p>19 obverse dies and 18 reverse</p><p><br /></p><p>The classic reverse PAX EQVITVM, was not previously used at Milan but, here again, a similar design can be found on the radiates of Trier. However, the iconography of the coins issued by Aureolus is slightly different: Aesculapius holds the serpent-staff in his right hand (instead of resting on it) on the left side, and holds his drapery (instead of resting his hand on his back). Interestingly, an exact prototype can be found on radiates of issue 7 at Trier (Mairat 347).</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1430044[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>IMP C POSTVMVS PF AVG / SALVS AVG</p><p><br /></p><p>Aesculapius with right hand leaning on serpent-staff which rests on the floor.</p><p><br /></p><p>1.96g 19mm Issue 4 Officinae P</p><p><br /></p><p>10 obverse dies and 10 reverse</p><p><br /></p><p>* In conclusion, I’ll show you the <i>Graal </i>coin for every Aureolus’ collector, a new type discovered not that long ago, only 3 known examples :</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1430049[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Hoping you enjoyed this thread, sometimes it’s good to ask ourselves if what we think we know is really the truth… <b>Please show me your Aureolus or anything you feel is relevant from the Gallic Empire.</b>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Ocatarinetabellatchitchix, post: 8180326, member: 99554"]We know almost nothing about the Gallic Empire, since only few written documents have survived until our modern days ; what was the truth 100 years ago has completely changed, and today a large part of what we believe is based on speculation and circumstantial proofs. So let’s have fun and be sceptical a bit… [B]The official story[/B] Aureolus, "Magister Equity" for 260 AD, entered in 267 in Gaul with Gallienus to regain the "Pars Occidentalis" of the Empire. Injured Gallienus returned to Italy, leaving Aureolus who was defeated. Feeling betrayed and taking advantage of what Gallienus was protecting the empire against the Goths, Aureolus was able to establish in Milan, and throughout northern Italy, a military government. He allied with Postumus and shut himself up in Milan and had coins minted in the latter's name in the Lombard capital. Gallienus ran and besieged Aureolus but he was murdered at the instigation of the new master of the horse, Claudius II, who left then kill the besieged to whom he had promised life saves against his surrender. The ancient texts do not agree on the defection of Aureolus, nor on his death, nor on that of Gallienus. In no ancient text it is said that Aureolus took the partit of Postumus, but rather that he prized the purple for himself. [B]The facts[/B] ZOSIMUS (500 AD) Historia Nova, book I, XL: "[I]Such was the situation in the East when one announces to Gallien, who continued to war against the Scythians, that Auréolus, commander of all the cavalry, who had received the order to watch in the city of Milan, the arrival in Italy of Postumus, thought of revolting and claiming power for himself ... (...) Gallienus, on his way to Italy, is the victim of the following plot. . "XLI" However, Aureolus, who for a long time had withdrawn from the authority of Gallienus, immediately sent an embassy to Claudius, surrendered and was assassinated by the soldiers who were with the emperor and who were angry at because of his defection.[/I] " AURELIUS VICTOR (360 AD), De Caesaribus, XXXIII, Licinius Gallien and Salonin. "[I]Aureolus, commander of the legions of Rhaetia, encouraged, as it should have been, by the indolence of such a cowardly emperor, had seized power, and marched straight on Rome. Gallienus defeats him near the bridge called of his name the bridge of Aureolus, forced him to take refuge in Milan; and, while he attacks this place with machines of all kinds, he is killed by his own soldiers. Here is how: Aureolus, despairing of raising the siege , cunningly draws up false lists, in which he inscribes the names of the chiefs and tribunes of Gallienus's army, whom the emperor is supposed to want to destroy; then these tablets are thrown, as mysteriously as possible, at the foot of the walls Chance dictates that they are found by those whose names they bear; seized with fear, they suspect that a death warrant has been signed against them, and that the negligence of Gallien's henchmen alone could have brought him down. hands. Immediately, on the advice of Aurelian, who enjoyed, in the mée, of the highest consideration, they spread the false news of an exit of the besieged. As always happens in times of confusion and surprise, Gallienus comes out of his tent, unguarded and in the midst of the darkness of the night; and then he is struck by a line which pierces him through and through, without one being able, in the darkness, to recognize the hand which unchecked him.[/I] HISTORIA AUGUSTAE (395 AD ?), The thirty tyrants, XI, Aureolus: "[I]He then becomes a powerful emperor and Gallienus, after having vainly tried to reduce this brave man, made peace with him when fighting against Postumus.[/I]" ZONARAS (1120 AD),Gallienus: "[I]Aureolus, who as we have already said in command of the cavalry and possessed great power, formed a new conspiracy against Gallienus, seized Milan and prepared for battle. The emperor having amassed all his forces and charged the rebel's troops, cut to pieces a large number, even wounded Aureolus and forced him to shut himself up in Milan where he besieged him ... (...) As Aureolus marched towards Italy at the head of the legions of Gaul which he commanded ... "Claudius:" Gallienus having been killed in this way, Claudius was elected emperor, and Aureolus gave up arms, submitting to his obedience. But having since made new plans for revolt , he was massacred by the soldiers.[/I] " In this passage, Zonaras suggests that Aureolus was at the head of the armies of Gaul and therefore seems to be the only ancient text which implies a rallying of Aureolus to the cause of Postumus. [ATTACH=full]1430038[/ATTACH] [B]The coinage[/B] We do not know of any coins in the name of Aureolus himself. Many numismatists have presented since the 17th century specimens attributed to Aureolus as Augustus. Most of them have been considered as counterfeit by Eckhel and Cohen later said that he hasn't been able to find only one genuine example. Only Banduri in 1718 asserted that he had examined during his research "ein authentische Münzen des Aureolus". Here are two of them from the Cabinet des Médailles in Paris : [ATTACH=full]1430036[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1430037[/ATTACH] History does not record an occupation of Milan by Postumus , but some scholars believed in the past that he may have held it for a short period of time as the result of a cavalry raid, which could be a possible explanation for the existence of these coins. Here is an interesting fact: a century ago, the popular idea was that Tarraco was the mint who produced these issues. A.Alföldi was the first in 1927 to assigned to the revolt of Aureolus an issue of antoniniani in Milanese style, with reverses showing the valor and fidelity of the cavalry, coupled with obverse portrait of Postumus on the assumption that Aureolus declared for the Gallic emperor Postumus upon rebelling against Gallienus. This attribution has been generally accepted until now. Alföldi has pointed out that Aureolus, Gallienus’s Magister Equitum, betrayed Gallienus and struck coins at Milan in Postumus’s name. Coins of this mint are distinguished by a very particular style and fabric, very different of the coins of the Gallic Empire mints. Most authors distinguish five different issues for Aureolus in the name of Postume in Milan which would span the period 267-268 AD. It is possible that all emissions were only minted in 268, between the months of February and May. These monetary strikes are divided into five issues. The first two are characterized by a diameter and a greater weight than the last. Schulzki isolated only four emissions, but with two phases for the second emission. All reverse legends always end with Aequit, Equit or Equitum' in honor of Aureolus who was the general-in-chief of the Milan cavalry, an elite body created by Gallienus in 260 AD. Alföldi isolated a part of Postumus’s coinage with very distinct features: these coins are late radiates, with a low silver content, and a very distinct portrait, style and fabric. These characteristics are undoubtedly the same as the latest coins of Gallienus minted at Milan with the letter M(ediolanum) in the exergue; and they are also similar to the first radiates issued by Claudius II at Milan, with which they share the reverse type SALVS AVG – Aesculapius – issued by the P(rima) officina. Alföldi’s attribution of these coins to Milan is hardly contestable and has since been fully accepted. [B]The sub-collection[/B] One of my main goal in 2021 was to assemble a sub-collection of Postumus / Aureolus coinage. I was not aiming all variants in reverse legends nor all officinaes for each type (P,S,T), but rather the 6 different reverse types in the best condition possible. Are these coins rare ? Not at all as you will see with the numbers of different obverse and reverse dies listed. Are they expensive to buy ? Yes they can be, especially since we’re in the crazy COVID era. So here they are : [ATTACH=full]1430042[/ATTACH] IMP POSTVMVS PF AVG / VIRTVS EQVITVM Hercules, lion skin over left arm, leaning on club. 3.59g 18mm Issue 4 Officinae S Doyen listed 11 different obverse dies and 14 reverse dies [ATTACH=full]1430040[/ATTACH] IMP POSTVMVS AVG / VIRTVS EQVIT Mars holding spear & shield 3.26g. 19mm Issue 2 Officinae T 132 obverse dies and 143 reverse [ATTACH=full]1430041[/ATTACH] IMP POSTVMVS AVG / CONCORD EQVIT Concordia, holding rudder & patera, prow of ship at feet. 2.94g. 19mm. Issue 2 Officinae S 113 obverse dies and 110 reverse This reverse is very interesting: the Concordia pours a patera onto the prow of a ship at its feet. In this way, the allusion is made between the Aureolus cavalry and the fleet. [ATTACH=full]1430043[/ATTACH] IMP POSTVMVS AVG / FIDES EQVIT Fides seated, holding patera and standard. 4.00g 19mm Issue 2 Officinae P 127 obverse dies and 135 reverse [ATTACH=full]1430039[/ATTACH] IMP C POSTVMVS PF AVG / PAX EQVITVM Pax holding olive branch & transverse sceptre. 3.60g 20mm Issue 4 Officinae T 19 obverse dies and 18 reverse The classic reverse PAX EQVITVM, was not previously used at Milan but, here again, a similar design can be found on the radiates of Trier. However, the iconography of the coins issued by Aureolus is slightly different: Aesculapius holds the serpent-staff in his right hand (instead of resting on it) on the left side, and holds his drapery (instead of resting his hand on his back). Interestingly, an exact prototype can be found on radiates of issue 7 at Trier (Mairat 347). [ATTACH=full]1430044[/ATTACH] IMP C POSTVMVS PF AVG / SALVS AVG Aesculapius with right hand leaning on serpent-staff which rests on the floor. 1.96g 19mm Issue 4 Officinae P 10 obverse dies and 10 reverse * In conclusion, I’ll show you the [I]Graal [/I]coin for every Aureolus’ collector, a new type discovered not that long ago, only 3 known examples : [ATTACH=full]1430049[/ATTACH] Hoping you enjoyed this thread, sometimes it’s good to ask ourselves if what we think we know is really the truth… [B]Please show me your Aureolus or anything you feel is relevant from the Gallic Empire.[/B][/QUOTE]
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