The Roman Empire
Domitian


Obverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Coin Description:
Grade: NGC Ch AU Strike: 5/5 Surface: 4/5
Owner: Kohaku
 
Set Category: Ancients
Set Name: The Roman Empire
Slot Name: Domitian
Research: Currently not available

Owner's Description

Tetricus I was born of noble Gallic blood in mid 3rd century AD. He found himself swept up in events leading to the founding of a new breakaway kingdom, known today as the Romano-Gallic Empire. The realm’s founder, Postumus, mimicked many traditional Roman legislative and executive structures, including a senate, wherein Tetricus participated. Some years later, Tetricus left the Senate to assume the governorship of the Gallia Aquitania province. In 271 AD, news spread that the Augustus of the Romano-Gallic Empire, Victorinus, died at the hands of one of his officers, and, for once, the troops did not proclaim anyone as new emperor. Surviving Victorinus was his mother Victoria, Postumus’ sister and sole survivor of their imperial dynasty. With her acumen, influence, and great personal wealth, Victoria bribed the troops to influence their choice for next Augustus. With no remaining blood relations to choose from, she advocated for the proven and respected Tetricus. Tetricus accepted the nomination, although he must have foreseen the difficult path ahead to rule the waning Romano-Gallic Empire. Germanic tribes kept invading across the Rhine, keeping Tetricus busy with defense early in his reign. Making matters worse, the province of Hispania ignored Tetricus (as it did his predecessor Victorinus), remaining re-aligned with Rome. The loss of resources, particularly Hispania’s rich mines, was a blow to the Romano-Gallic Empire. The precious metal shortage necessitated a drastic reduction of antoniniani silver content, down to as low as a mere 1%. Although Tetricus produced large quantities of coins, they generally exhibit poor quality. Not surprisingly, Tetricus’ surviving coins tend to exhibit high susceptibility to corrosion. Tetricus struck this coin, remarkably well struck and preserved for its type, at an uncertain Gallic mint in early 270s AD. The obverse depicts a radiate and cuirassed Augustus, typical for the period. On the verse stands Laetitia, the Roman goddess representing a host of related concepts such as joy, gaiety, and celebration. In one hand, she holds a wreath, an ornament commonly worn during festivities or holy rituals. In her other hand, she holds an anchor, representing stability. This imagery, along with the epithet (LAETITIA AVG N), was propaganda to convey the happiness that the Augustus bestowed his subjects. Laetitia’s sentiment notwithstanding, the Romano-Gallic Empire continued its decline. Meanwhile, the Roman Empire, led by the powerful Augustus Aurelian, fixated on recovering her wayward territories. Portions of the Romano-Gallic Empire, fearing Aurelian’s wrath, reverted their allegiance back to Rome. In an attempt to improve support, Tetricus appointed his son, Tetricus II as Caesar. However, the effort proved futile against the juggernaut; Aurelian marched his massive army into Gaul in early 274 AD. The two Tetrici responded in kind, gathering their armies to meet the oncoming storm. The conflict reached its climax at the Battle of Châlons (fought in modern-day Châlons-en-Champagne, France). Both sides incurred horrific casualties, but Rome proved the stronger. The turning point of the struggle came when Tetricus was captured, which may have been his objective from the start. It has even been claimed that Tetricus wrote Aurelian prior to the battle, quoting Virgil: eripe me his, invicte, malis (rescue me, o undefeated one, from these troubles). Many historians refute this notion as Aurelian’s propaganda after the fact, and maintain Tetricus and his troops fought to the bitter end. Otherwise, it is difficult to imagine why Aurelian wouldn't have accepted his opponent’s surrender sooner, preventing casualties and conserving troops to defend against the persistent Germanic tribes. Regardless of Tetricus’ true intent, his realm collapsed, and he and his son were taken prisoner as war trophies. Even so, Tetricus’ narrative does not end here. He was not only pardoned, but also appointed him a governorship in southern Italy. Augustus Aurelian was either repaying a debt, or, as was his wont, exercising clemency. In any case, it made sense to employ Tetricus in this manner to help stabilize the western Empire. In this fashion, Tetricus was Rome’s only rival Emperor to be defeated, yet live out his remaining years in peace and comfort. Coin Details: ROMANO-GALLIC EMPIRE, Tetricus, 271-274 AD, Billon Double Denarius (2.36 g, 21 mm), NGC Grade: Ch AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Obverse: Radiate, and cuirassed bust right, IMP TETRICVS PF AVG, Reverse: Laetitia standing left holding wreath and anchor, LAETITIA AVG N, Reference: RIC V-2 90.

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