Freeman & Sear - Gemini I, Session 2

Mail Bid Lot: 431

ROMAN EMPIRE: Postumus, usurper in Gaul. AD 260-268. AV 
aureus (5.63 gm).

ROMAN EMPIRE. Postumus (usurper in Gaul, AD 260-268). 
Gold aureus (5.63 gm). Gaul, AD 263-264. POSTVMVS PIVS 
AVG, laureate head right / INDVLG PIA POSTVMI AVG, 
Postumus, laureate and togate, seated left on curule 
chair, holding roll and extending right hand towards 
small figure kneeling before him. Schulte 91-95 (8 
specimens, from 5 obverse and 4 reverse dies; the 
present specimen from a new die pair, not known to 
Schulte). RIC 276 (R2). Cohen 145 (250 Fr.). Calicó 3737 
(R3). Some tiny contact marks on reverse. Good luster. 
Mint state 

The reverse commemorates the "dutiful generosity" of 
Postumus, presumably exercised when he celebrated his 
quinquennalia which are one of the main themes of 
Schulte's Group 6b, to which this issue belongs. Alföldi 
cited this type as proof that the kneeling adoration of 
the emperor had been introduced before the Tetrarchy; 
Schulte (pp. 35-36) thinks that it is actually a small 
curved object held by the emperor that the kneeling 
figure is adoring. In our opinion the curved object is 
merely a clumsy rendering of the emperor's thumb, as 
also on Schulte, pl. 6, reverse dies 45 and 49, and the 
kneeling figure is stretching out his arms to receive a 
gift from the emperor, not to worship him. 
Estimated Value: $ 32,000 


...Sold for $37,000 USD [ approx 28120 EUR, 19610 GBP ] plus 15% buyers fee. 

Gemini I Auction Closed Jan 11-12, 2005. 

Re-used by permission of Freeman & Sear (www.freemanandsear.com) 
     and Harlan J Berk (www.harlanjberk.com).