This is less
rare and a great deal less expensive than some of the coins we've been seeing recently! However .. unusual and interesting
types always attract me, and it can't be bad that so many of them are quite affordable.
This
reverse on an
antoninianus of
Postumus from either
Lugdunum (
RIC) or
Cologne (
Sear) is
Minerva running left, holding a branch, with the
legend MINER FAVTR. This would expand to
MINERVA FAVTRIX. According to
Sear, only
Postumus had this
legend on
his coinage. (There is also an
aureus.)
But what does it mean? The symbolism of this sort of
type, a powerful figure such as
Mars or
Hercules bearing a branch, is, I think, something like "
peace through strength." There are many other branch-bearing
types, but this would seem a reasonable interpretation for this particular group. ("They make a wilderness and call it
peace" - words attributed by
Tacitus the historian to the British leader Calgacus).
Minerva / Athene was another such powerful character, a thunderbolt-wielding war deity, shown here with her spear, helmet and
shield.
Sear says "FAVTRIX" translates as "Favourable," but my Collins
Gem says "protectress," and William Whitaker's very handy "Words" program expands that to "patroness/protector; admirer/supporter/partisan; she promotes/fosters interests."
Minerva the protectress, rushing to enforce the
Roman peace, seems a more likely meaning for this coin.
