Sale: CNG 82, Lot: 1056. Estimate $200.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 16 September 2009.  Sold For $300. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Barbarous Radiates. Late 3rd century AD-4th century AD. “Antoninianus” (3.00 g, 9h). Imitating Tetricus I or II. Radiate head right / Figure, holding spear, standing right, his hand on captive to right, standing right. Unpublished. VF.

While the obverse of this issue clearly imitates one of the Tetrici, the reverse is a novel type. There are many official issues that feature a figure holding a transverse spear, either the emperor, a soldier, Mars, or Virtus, but the accompanying captive standing to his right is unknown. The style and fabric are most similar to the barbarous radiates found in hoards deposited in Gaul. Although there are a few small issues featuring a similarly depicted Virtus with a seated captive before him, these emperor/soldier/Virtus-and-captive types are far more prevalent in Roman coinage of the 4th century AD, so it is likely that the present issue was struck in that century.