Postvmvs

Like others, I am not ashamed of any coins, excepting a few fakes, but there are certainly regrets. Paying more than a coin is worth. Finding out only when you receive it that there are shiny spots where the patina is not intact that were not apparent in the dealer photo. Opting for lower grade specimen of a rare coin only for a much better one to pop up...

This rare Postumus antoninianus is two of those categories: a low grade specimen that I paid too much for (opinion) that I ended up getting a much better one not long after.

Obverse: IMP C POSTVMVS PF AVG

Reverse: PM TRP VIIII COS IIII PP bow, club, Scythian quiver

Reference: AGK65a

So not ashamed, but a little bit of regret.

@rasiel Thanks for sharing this stunning information about the "third Domitianus II". Do you remember the country the eBay seller? Is there any way to recover more information from the original listing?

One of several things that bothered me about that coin was its reported find location of Bulgaria -- far away from the borders of the Gallic empire making an imitation of a very short-lived usurper extremely unlikely. If the provenance is not accurate, that could actually be in the coin's favor... Stylistically the coin is not an official mint product, so I think we may be in a "Bonosus" situation of reading into blundered legend something more. With barbarous radiates, the blundered legends are sometimes like a die engraving equivalent of an infinite number of monkeys typing on typewriters.

Happy birthday!

Here is one of my nicer Postumus with Sol.

Postumus, 260-269AD, antoninianus

Obverse: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG - Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust facing right.

Reverse: ORIENS AVG - Sol running left, with right hand raised and holding whip in left hand, cloak flies out behind; P in left field.

Interesting curiosity. Based on the appearance, such as the slight off-center and roughness on the reverse around 10 to 11 o'clock, it looks to be created from an actual coin. It would, at least in theory, be possible to track down the one they used as the model.

I wonder if they made a plaster mold of the original and used a Janvier lathe to increase the size.

Yes, based on the most agreed upon dating, this Gallienus is from 259-260AD and Postumus would take Trier in 260AD. There is still some debate whether the main mint of Postumus for most of his reign was Cologne or Trier. Mairat, whose Ph.D. thesis was the basis for the newly revised RIC volume covering the Gallic empire, makes a strong case for Trier being the main mint (with Cologne being opened late in Postumus' reign and Milan producing coins in Postumus' name under Aureolus).

The rare earliest coins of Postumus are interesting as they a) have a portrait of Postumus significantly different from later depictions (sort of a cross between Saloninus if-he-had-a-beard and Gallienus) and b) all feature his long name with the emperor's name misspelled POSTIMVS.

Here my nicest early Postumus from Trier:

Postumus, antoninianus, Trier 260AD

Obverse: IMP C M CASS LAT POSTIMVS(sic) P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right

Reverse: SALVS PROVINCIARVM, river god Rhine (with horns) reclining left, resting on urn with left arm, right hand on forepart of boat.

@Claudius_Gothicus thanks for sharing, I was unaware of this fancy bust style of Gallienus.

Here is a Gallienus I have attributed to Trier, which I find appealing, or at least a step above the grape-bearded cartoon Gallienus on some other mints:

link: emperor standing right with globe and spear

Postumus 260-269 antoninianus, local imitation

Obverse: IMP C POSTVMVS PF AVG, radiate and draped bust right.

Reverse: SAECVLI FELICITAS, Emperor standing right, holding globe in left hand, and spear in right hand.

AGK77

Although weakly struck, I love the style of the reverse.

Link: Gallienus, Felicitas

Gallienus, 253-268

billon antoninianus, local imitation, 4.21g, 19mm

Obverse: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head, right.

Reverse: FELICITNS AVG [sic], Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus in right hand and cornucopia in left.

I don't have proper reference for Gallienus, so I am not sure if this exact reverse type was issued by an official mint for Gallienus.

Obverse legend is "HL KUNIGUNDE", where HL is an abbreviation for "heilig" (German => "holy") in this case denoting a Saint. So, it shows St. Cunigunde:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cunigunde_of_Luxembourg

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunigunde_von_Luxemburg

Another example over on CoinTalk:

https://www.cointalk.com/threads/help.296947/

@Marsyas Mike In that case, I have had some coins get "cabinet friction" through the post from less than ideal packing 🤣

I can think of two scenarios:

a) the coin was cleaned and then the highest point, the hair was touching something that prevented air from getting to it so it did not oxidize like the rest of the coin

b) as the highest point, the hair, has rubbed against something exposing fresh silver which is brighter than the rest of the coin

I don't think either really matter as the coin will continue to tone, especially as you are touching it.

My Postumus antoninianus with a sizable die break on the reverse:

Link: Philip I

fourree antoninianus, 22mm 4.47g

IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG radiate, draped, cuirassed, right

PAX - AETERN Pax, draped, running left, holding branch in right hand and transverse spear in left hand

C.102  - RIC.41  - RSC.102

@Heliodromus where did you acquire your example?

It appears to be this:

https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=7235&lot=383

GERMANY. Nürnberg. Free Imperial City, 1219-1806. ¼ Dukat ND (18th century). Obv. SEEGNE MICH. An angel supporting a man, helping him to walk. Rev. BEHÜTE MICH. An angel walking by a reaper and his dog. Fr. -. AU. 0.76 g. - AU
The legend of this coins might refer to Numbers 6:24 "The Lord bless you and keep you / Der Herr segne dich und behüte dich".

I have one "Becker", a later restrike in white metal. It was unfortunately damaged in the post.

Seller photo:

What I received:

Link: PAX AVG with a letter in the field

Postumus Antoninianus, struck 268/269 AD

Obv: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.

Rev: PAX AVG / P (in field), Pax standing left, holding branch and sceptre.

One of the most common coins of Postumus, struck later than the variety without P in the field, and of significantly lower silver content than earlier in his reign.

Link: minted in Spain

Visigoths AE Pentanummium Ispali Mint

Date: circa 650 AD
Obverse: Helmeted bust right
Reverse: Cross with backwards S and P
Size: 13.82 mm
Weight: 1.6 grams
Description: Ex CNG sale 39 lot 1838 1996, ex Marc Breitsprecher

Yes, that looks like a more honest example.

Postumus Antoninianus, 260-269AD
Obv: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: SERAPI COMITI AVG, Serapis standing left, right arm raised, holding long transverse sceptre in left hand

Next: Uberitas

Postumus antoninianus 260-269AD

IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right

NEPTVNO REDVCI Neptune, standing left, holding dolphin in right hand and trident in left hand; sometimes to left, forepart of vessel

Interesting how errors like these can propagate. To this day I still see Postumus antoninianii listed as being minted in Lugdunum even though that hypothesis was discredited almost a century ago.

Unfortunately, I don't think the Hirsch sestertius is a great example for you point since it has been extensively tooled. The crude form of the letters on "AETERNITAS" in particular is a give away it has been heavily re-engraved.

Maximus 236-238AD fourree denarius, local imitation

Obverse: MAXIMVS CAES GERM. Bareheaded and draped bust right.
Reverse: PRINC IVVENTVTIS. Maximus standing left, holding baton and spear; two signa to right.

Next: another fourree

Link: Felicitas

Postumus 260-269AD Antoninianus, local imitation

IMP C POSTVMVS PF AVG

FELICITAS AVG Felicitas, draped, standing left, holding caduceus in right hand and cornucopiae in left hand

ex. Trésor d'Hortensia

Sri Lanka Ancient Indo-Roman Imitative AE

Date: 5th century AD
Obverse: Bust right
Reverse: Cross with star at center
Size: 12.2 mm
Weight: 0.44 grams

ex. Marc Breitsprecher

Next: more imitations