Pacatian, Usurper

CNG 93, Lot: 1222. Estimate $7500. Sold for $8000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Pacatian. Usurper, circa AD 248-249. AR Antoninianus (23mm, 2.15 g, 1h). Viminacium mint. 1st emission. IMP TI CL MAR PACATIANVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / FIDE[S] MILITVM, Fides standing left, holding signum in each hand. RIC IV –; Szaivert, Beginn 5; RSC –. Good VF, toned, holed. Attractive portrait. Very rare.

Very little is known of the usurper Tiberius Claudius Marinus Pacatianus, who seized power in Upper Moesia in AD 248. Most of our information about Pacatian comes from his coinage. Viminacium is the most probable site for his 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.