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Roman Empire

Ruler: Tacitus
Reigned: 275 - 276 AD
Denomination: Base silver Antoninianus
Mint: Cyzicus/Ticinum*
Obverse: Radiate, draped, bust right." IMP. C.M. CL. TACITVS AVG."
Reverse: Roma standing left holding spear, receiving globe from Tacitus standing right, holding sceptre. "CLEMENTIA TEMP."
Mint marks:
 
P
Reference: RIC V(i) 126
Weight: 3.5 gms
Diameter: 22.1 mm
Comment: *This coin is listed in RIC V(i) as being from the mint of Ticinum. However, this has been corrected in RIC V (ii), Preface, as being from the mint of Cyzicus.

This coin is unusual in that it is made from at least 10% silver. This makes it similar to the double antoniniani of Tacitus at the Antioch mint.[example] The reverse legend and type is also the same, or similar.

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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