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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: Bust right, radiate, cuirassed and draped with paludamentum. "IMP C.M. CL. TACITVS AVG."
Reverse: Emperor in military dress standing. right, holding short eagle-tipped sceptre in left hand, receiving a globe from Jupiter standing. left, holding long sceptre in left hand. "CLEMENTIA TEMP."
Mint marks:
A
XXI
Reference: RCVM 11762, RIC V.1 211, New RIC temp. no. #4097
Weight: 4.0 gms
Diameter: 22.5 mm
Comment: This coin is the ordinary XXI antoninianus version of the XI double antoninianus type.

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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R20136