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FlorianusŽ

Roman Empire

Ruler:

Tacitus

Reigned:

275 - 276 AD

Denomination:

AE Antoninianus (silvered)

Mint:

Lugdunum

Obverse:

Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. "IMP. CL. TACITVS AVG."

Reverse:

Felicity standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae. "TEMPORVM FELICITAS"[1]

Mint marks:

A	star

Reference:

RCVM 11817, RIC 65

Weight:

3.5 gms

Diameter:

22.3 mm

Comment:

[1] = Time of happiness

TACITUS (M. Claudius Tacitus)

When Aurelian was murdered in September 275, the soldiers who were with him, unusually, wrote to the senate in Rome, asking it to nominate one of its own members as emperor. This they did, electing their leading member, the elderly Marcus Claudius Tacitus.

His claim to be related to the famous historian Tacitus, was untrue.

Early in 276 he joined the army in Thrace, probably the same that Aurelian had assembled for a Persian offensive.

He advanced into Asia Minor claiming a victory over the Heruli in the spring of 276, and winning the title of 'Gothicus Maximus'

In July 276 he was murdered at Tyana in Cappadocia (southern Turkey), while preparing to return to Europe, after a reign of only six months.

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