A.D. 269-271 Romano-Gallic Empire Billon Double Denarius of Victorinus NGC XF South Petherton Hoard

Treasure From The South Petherton Hoard!

The Crisis of the Third Century was a dark time for the Roman Empire. Lasting from about AD 235 to 284, it saw the empire nearly collapse due to invasions, rebellions, and a multitude of usurpers for the title of emperor almost too numerous to name. One usurper, Victorinus, reigned for only a short time, his tenure snuffed out by the jealous husband of the woman he had tried to seduce. A highly competent soldier and military commander, Victorinus had earlier enjoyed tremendous success from 260 to 269 in the service of Postumus, the first emperor of the so-called Romano-Gallic Empire.

The Emperor Whose Lust Hastened His Own Demise

Victorinus rose to power in the years following the murder of Postumus, who was killed by his own troops in 268 because he forbade them to sack a city following a victory at the battle of Mogontiacum (modern-day Mainz, Germany). Postumus was replaced by Marius, a respected blacksmith who had risen through the ranks of the Roman army. His first decision as emperor: Sack the city! His reign lasted no more than two or three months until Victorinus led a coup of former Postumus allies that murdered him with, as legend has it, a sword of the former blacksmith's own making.

Amid the chaos created by the ever-changing emperors and usurpers, Victorinus somehow found time to engage in an ill-advised affair with the wife of Attitianus, his army's quartermaster. When Attitianus found out about the affair he took matters into his own hands and in a fit of rage slaughtered his one-time friend and emperor. A member of a wealthy and influential family, Victorinus' mother held enough authority among the army to determine the question of succession. And since Victorinus' murder was a personal matter of revenge and not political, his mother was able to bribe the troops for their support of her nominee, Tetricus. The short-lived break-away Empire was finally retaken by Emperor Aurelian in 274.

A Symbol Of Wealth And Prosperity

This stunning Double Denarius of Romano-Gallic Emperor Victorinus was struck from AD 269 to 271 out of billon, a metallic alloy containing bronze with a thin coating of silver. An image of a crowned Victorinus resplendently dressed in his battle armor is featured on the obverse along with the legend IMP·VICTORINUS P·F·AVG·AVG meaning "Commander Caesar Victorinus: Pious, Happy Emperor." The coin's reverse depicts the goddess Felicitas standing with a long caduceus in her right hand, a cornucopia in her left, accompanied by the inscription FELICITAS AVG "The good fortune of the Emperor." Felicitas was the goddess or personification of success and good luck, and a prominent symbol of wealth and prosperity on Roman coinage.

Hurry! Add This Museum-Quality Piece To Your Collection While You Still Can!

Each coin available in this offer has been certified and graded by the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) as being in Extremely Fine (XF) condition and exhibits a remarkable strike and surface conditions. In addition, NGC has pedigreed each coin available here as being from the famous South Petherton Hoard, a hoard of 7,563 coins that was unearthed in the village of South Petherton, Somerset, England in 2013. Each comes also comes in a protective story vault holder which provides background on the discovery. Quantities are extremely limited so add this museum-quality piece to your collection today before you find yourself amidst the Crisis of the 21st Century!

COIN HIGHLIGHTS:

• COINS FROM THE SHORT-LIVED GALLIC EMPIRE - These coins were struck by the Romano-Gallic Empire, a short-lived empire that broke away from the Roman Empire during the Crisis of the Third Century. The breakaway empire controlled what is today France and areas west of the Rhine River from about AD 260-274.
• STRUCK MORE THAN 1,750 YEARS AGO - Each coin was struck during the reign of Emperor Victorinus, one of the most powerful men of the Roman Empire who was ultimately murdered by a jealous husband.
• HIGH-GRADE ANCIENT COINS - Your AD 269-271 Romano-Gallic Empire Billon Double Denarius of Victorinus has been certified and graded by the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) as being in Extremely Fine (XF) condition—a high grade for such an old coin that was struck in a critical moment in world history.
• AMAZING FIND IN THE FIELDS OF ENGLAND - NGC has pedigreed each coin available here as being from the famous South Petherton Hoard, a hoard of 7,563 coins that was unearthed in the village of South Petherton, Somerset, England in 2013. Per British law, the coins were examined and curated by the British Museum before they were released for sale to the public.
• SEALED IN A PROTECTIVE STORY VAULT HOLDER - Your coin has been sonically sealed in an acrylic Story Vault holder which provides background on the discovery.

Get a glimpse of the Roman Empire's Crisis of the 3rd Century with this AD 269-271 Romano-Gallic Empire Billon Double Denarius of Victorinus. NGC has certified that the coin hails from the South Petherton Hoard and comes in Extremely Fine condition.