The Usurper Uranius Antoninus

326, Lot: 328. Estimate $1000. Sold for $850. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria. Emesa. Uranius Antoninus. Usurper, AD 253-254. BI Tetradrachm (24mm, 11.60 g, 6h). Laureate head right / Eagle standing facing, head and tail left, with wings spread, holding wreath in beak; S C in exergue. Baldus 24; Prieur 1045. VF, toned, porous surfaces, pitted on obverse. Rare.

Uranius Antoninus is unknown from the ancient literary sources, although Zosimus perhaps confuses this usurper with two usurpers he names as Uranius and Antoninus during the reign of Severus Alexander. He established his government at Emesa, probably in response to repeated Persian attacks rather than as a challenge to Rome. In any event, it appears he was finally subdued when Valerian marched to recover the East.