Sale: Triton V, Lot: 2088. Estimate $10000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 16 January 2002.  Sold For $7750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PACATIAN. Circa 248-249 AD. AR Antoninianus (4.22 gm). Viminacium mint. IMP TI CL MAR PACATIANVS F P A, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / PA[X] AE[T]ERNA, Pax standing left, holding branch and transverse sceptre. RIC IV 5 var.; RSC 6 var. Toned EF, superb quality metal for this extremely rare coinage, apparently a unique variety. Possibly the finest known Pacation antoninianus! ($10,000)

Ex Numismatic Fine Arts Auction XXV (29 November 1990), lot 443.

Very little is known of the usurper Tiberius Claudius Marinus Pacatianus, who seized power in Upper Moesia in 248 AD. It is believed that Pacatian was killed by his own troops shortly after he seized control.

Viminacium is the most probable site for Pacatian’s mint, and a comparison with the local aes coinage shows remarkable similarity of style. Seven different reverses were used on the antoniniani of Pacatian -- Concordia, Felicitas, Fides, Fortuna, Pax, Roma and Victory -- all common themes in the third century. Such a variety of reverse types would suggest a large issue of coins, though today all coins of Pacatian are very rare, with only about 100 specimens of all varieties known.