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Roman Emp., Postumus, Aureus 261

Currency:CHF Category:Coins & Paper Money / Coins: Ancient Start Price:64,000.00 CHF Estimated At:80,000.00 - 100,000.00 CHF
Roman Emp., Postumus, Aureus 261
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The Roman Empire, Postumus, 260 – 269, Aureus, Cologne 261, AV 6.32 g. IMP C POSTV – MVS P F AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. AETERNITAS / AVG Three radiate and draped busts of Sol of which one is facing between the other two facing him. C 6 var. (not cuirassed). RIC 18d. Schulte 18. Calicó 3709. Extremely rare, apparently only the second specimen known of this variety and the fifth of this fascinating type. A handsome portrait well struck on a full flan and extremely fine Postumus, the rebel who in 260 established his own empire in the Western provinces, relied upon his legions to defend against the legitimate emperors to the east, barbarians to the north, and from brigands and usurpers that lurked within his realm. Thus it is not surprising that his coinage made special appeals to the army, including honouring the sun god Sol, who at this time was a favourite among professional soldiers, many of whom subscribed to the universal worship of Sol. His most broadly distributed Sol-type occurs on double-denarii that show the sun-god accompanied by the inscription ORIENS AVG, literally ‘the rising sun of the emperor’. To this type we may add a scarcer issue of double-denarii struck at the end of his reign showing the portrait of Sol and bearing the inscription PACATOR ORBIS, describing Postumus as a bringer of peace to the world. Beyond these coins intended for mass distribution, there were some spectacular aurei that made reference to Sol as a companion of the emperor. One remarkable issue shows the portrait of Postumus three-quarters facing, wearing a radiate crown; since it was an aureus we can rule out a numismatic function for the crown and must conclude it was an attempt by Postumus to assimilate himself with the sun god. Another aureus shows on its reverse the jugate busts of Sol and Luna, and on its obverse those of Postumus and Hercules. Aurei of the type offered here, with a most unusual composition showing on their reverse three radiate heads – all presumably Sol – defy easy explanation as to why three were preferred to just one, especially since a single portrait of Sol occurs on his PACATOR ORBIS issue, struck both in billon and gold