Owner Comments:
During the Crisis of the Third Century, a seemingly endless onslaught of usurpers challenged Rome’s rule. The situation degenerated to the point that usurpers tried to usurp usurpers. As an illustration, consider the conflict between usurper Ulpius Cornelis Laelianus (died 269 AD) and his usurpee Postumus, who took usurpation to the next level by forming his own Romano-Gallic Empire.
Little is known about Laelianus beyond his rise and demise in early to mid 269 AD. Laelianus staged a rebellion at Mainz, wherein the local troops promoted him to Emperor. Prior to accepting the imperial nomination, Laelianus may have served under Postumus as the governor of Germania, or perhaps commander of the resident legion (
Legio XXII Primigenia). Although his new realm only lasted a few months – too ephemeral, alas, to name it the Romano-Germano Empire – Laelianus struck coinage. His very rare issues comprise an aureus and a billon antoninianus, with stylistic similarities to coins produced by Postumus at the nearby Cologne mint. Thus, it is widely postulated that Laelianus employed Cologne’s mint and its workers, even if he transferred operations to Moguntiacum (modern-day Mainz, Germany).
This coin represents one of Laelianus’ antoninianii (that is the coin’s modern name, no one knows what it was called in antiquity, and NGC refers to it as a double-denarius). The style appears somewhat crude, suggesting the coin’s subitaneous production. Although the obverse radiate and cuirassed bust looks similar to Postumus, the inscription IMP C LAELIANVS P F AVG leaves no doubt regarding proper attribution. The verso depicts Victory (the goddess representing all things victorious) running to the right with wreath and palm branch, enclosed within the inscription VICTORIA AVG. This particular obverse and reverse combination may be unique.
Laelianus’ choice of Victory for the coin’s reverse imitates his former boss (although on Postumus’ coinage, Victory tends to turns her attention to the left). Another view is that Victory’s numismatic appearance heralded Laelianus’ winning the support of the local troops. Yet another, not mutually exclusive theory holds that Laelianus anticipated victory against Postumus. The latter rapidly mobilized his troops and besieged Moguntiacum, quite possibly before this coin had the chance to circulate outside the city.
Neither usurper survived Moguntiacum. Post-ascension, Laelianus’ popularity had declined to the point that he was probably murdered by his own nervous troops before Postumus entered the city gates. Not to be upstaged, Postumus’ troops also murdered their own commander, probably in response to being denied sacking the city.
Coin Details: ROMANO-GALLIC EMPIRE, Laelianus, Usurper, AD 269, Antoninianus (19.5mm, 2.68 g, 7h), Colonia Agrippinensis (Cologne) mint, 3rd emission, NGC Grade: Ch XF, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 3/5, Obverse: Radiate and cuirassed bust right, IMP C LAELIANVS P F AVG, Reverse: Victory running right, holding wreath and palm frond, VICTORIA AVG, References: RIC V 9; Gilljam dies IX/54 (unrecorded combination); Mairat 231; AGK 1c; Ex FJ Collection; Ex Tony Hardy Collection.