R20133 Tacitus

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Roman Empire

Ruler:

Tacitus

Reigned:

275 - 276 AD

Denomination:

AE Antoninianus/Aurelianus

Mint:

Antioch

Date of Issue:

January - June 276

Obverse:

Radiate, draped, bust right. "IMP C.M. CL. TACITVS AVG."

Reverse:

Emperor standing right holding sceptre, receiving globe from Jupiter standing left, holding sceptre. "CLEMENTIA TEMP."

Mint marks:

X•XI

Reference:

RIC Vi 210 var.,New RIC temp. no. #4105 this coin recorded.

Weight:

3.8 gms

Diameter:

21.9 mm

Comment:

This mintmark combination is currently unique

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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R20133