Postumus with SOL - Museum Gallery

Roman Imperial AE Antoninianus of the Gallic Empire of Postumus (259 - 268 A.D) Cologne, Germania mint. OB: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, radiate and draped bust right. Rx: PACATOR ORBIS, radiate head of SOL right. Ex. Tom Cederlind, ex Civitas sale. RIC V 317; RSC IV 214a; Sharp EF, sm flan crack. An iconic coin for the Gallic Empire that rarely comes up for sale.
The year 260 was among the worst in Roman history. The crises that arose were so numerous and widespread that the Roman state appeared on the brink of extinction. The capture of the senior emperor Valerian I and his army in the East was disturbing enough, yet it caused a general panic that encouraged the Sasanians and invited barbarian invasions across the northern frontier. These terrifying incursions sparked revolts in the East under Macrinus and Quietus, in the Balkans under Inge- nuus and Regalianus, and in the West by the issuer of this coin, a gifted commander named Postumus. Though Postumus’ revolt wounded the pride of the Roman state, it perhaps did more to preserve the Roman way of life in the Western provinces than Gallienus would have been prepared to admit. At a time when the central emperor found it impossible to devote enough time or resources for the far-flung regions of Britain, Spain, Gaul and the two Germanies, a local and energetic commander proved more effective in protecting Roman interests. Frankish soldiers crossed the Rhine in astonishing num- bers, devastating areas of Gaul, Lower Germany and Belgica, with some making it as far south as Spain and, eventually, Nor- th Africa. The Alamanni penetrated into Upper Germany and the Raetian limes, flooding into the Agri Decumates and Gaul, and even raiding the Swiss plateau. Even Italy was not spared: after suppressing the revolt of Ingenuus in the Balkans, Gallienus sped back to northern Italy in the summer of 260 to defeat the Alamanni at the battle of Milan. Meanwhile, Postumus battled invaders further west on behalf of his emperor. The Historia Augusta describes him as Transrhenani limitis dux et Galliae praeses and Aurelius Victor reports that barbaris per Galliam praesidebat; he may have been a commander or a governor of one of the Germanies, and he usually is thought to have been the governor of Lower Germany. In the fall of 260, Postumus appears to have defeated barba- rians who were returning home with their booty, which Postumus then distributed among his men. When the praetorian prefect Silvanus and the Caesar Saloninus demanded that the booty be delivered to them, it caused some of the Rhine legions to declare Postumus their emperor. Postumus then besieged Saloninus and Silvanus in Cologne, which soon capitulated. Its leaders handed over Saloninus (who only recently had been hailed emperor) and his prefect for execution. In this early period and, indeed, throughout his reign, Postumus found much success fighting German invaders. This bronze, which bears the image of Victory advancing over a bound German captive, celebrates Postumus’ early success against the Germans, for which he had assumed the title Germanicus Maximus by December of 261. [Numismatica Ars Classica]
For a brief History of the Gallic Empire in the Moneta Library, by Percy Webb: VIEW & DOWNLOAD:
[ link ]