A Powerful Portrait

Fleur De Coin; lustrous metal, a powerful and sharply engraved portrait. This combination of dies unlisted in Lempereur.

30,000

Pertinax was the first emperor in the tumultuous ‘Year of Five Emperors’. His early life and career is well documented in the Historia Augusta: born into a humble family and the son of a freedman, Pertinax had originally tried to make his way in life as a teacher of grammar, but at some point decided to try to attain a greater station, and with the help of a patron he was commissioned an officer in the Roman army

Pertinax distinguished himself in a campaign against Parthia, and after postings in Britain and on the Danube he served as procurator in Dacia. His career suffered a serious setback during the reign of Marcus Aurelius on account of court intrigues, however he was recalled to assist Claudius Pompeianus during the Marcomannic Wars. In 175 he was made suffect consul, and he then served as governor of a string of provinces including Syria and Britain.

In the 180s he was sent to Britain where the army was in a state of mutiny. His attempt to calm the restive soldiers resulted in his bodyguard being attacked, and Pertinax was left for dead. After his recovery he severely punished the mutinous legion, adding to his reputation as a disciplinarian. In 187 he was forced to resign due to the legions having grown hostile to his strict command style. His career reached an apex when he was given the proconsulship of Africa, the urban prefecture of Rome, and a second consulship with the emperor as his colleague.

When Commodus was murdered on the last day of AD 192, Pertinax was still serving as urban prefect, and hurried to the Praetorian camp where he was proclaimed emperor the following morning. His attempts at reform and restraint, along with attempts to impose discipline on the unruly Praetorians, did not endear him to the Guard who had expected a large donative. After a reign of only three months, during which time he refused imperial titles for his wife and son, a contingent of several hundred Praetorian Guardsmen rushed the palace and Pertinax, although he almost succeeded in reasoning with them, was struck down. Yet by his understanding of the danger of his station and his wise decision not to associate his family with the purple, they were spared from violence.

The powerful portrait of this magnificent aureus shows the furrowed brow and weathered face of a man who had attained high position through hard work and discipline, now burdened by the cares of state. It is an appropriate depiction for an emperor who tried hard to bring the unravelling Roman system back onto the correct path but was ultimately slain for his efforts.

699. 600

700.

Pescennius Niger AR Denarius. Antioch, AD 193-194. IMP CAES C PESC NIGER IVST AV, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / [FO] RTVNAE REDVCI, Fortuna standing to left, holding rudder and cornucopiae. RIC IV 26 var. (bust type); BMCRE -; RSC 28b var. (bust type); Naville 20, 569 (hammer: 850 GBP, same obv. die). 3.01g, 19mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Unpublished, with only one other example on CoinArchives, this being in considerably better condition.

From a private UK collection.

701.

Pescennius Niger AR Denarius. Antioch, AD 193-194. [IMP] CAES C PESCEN NIGER IVST AVG, laureate head to right / [FO]RTVN[A]E REDVCI, Fortuna seated to left, wearing peplos, holding branch and cornucopiae. RIC IV 22 var. (obv. legend); BMCRE -; RSC -. 3.68g, 19mm, 6h.

Near Mint State; highly lustrous. Rare with this obv. legend.

From a private UK collection.

702.

Pescennius Niger AR Denarius. Antioch, AD 193-194. IMP CAES C PESC NIGER IVST AVG, laureate head to right / IVSTITIA AVG, Justitia standing facing, head to left, holding scales and sceptre. RIC IV 45c var. (rev. type), cf. 49 for rev. type; BMCRE 305 note (Wars) var. (same); RSC 43a var. (same). 2.66g, 19mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine; well-centred and complete.

Privately purchased from Numismatica Ars Classica AG; Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd, Auction XV, 5 April 2018, lot 582.

1,800

Pescennius Niger AR Denarius. Antioch, AD 193-194. IMP CAES C PESC NIGER IVST AVG, laureate head to right / IVSTITIA AVGVSTI, Justitia standing facing, head to left, holding scales and cornucopiae. RIC IV 47d var. (bust type); BMCRE 305 note; RSC 47b. 2.91g, 19mm, 6h.

About Extremely Fine.