354, Lot: 577. Estimate $200. Sold for $140. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Barbarous Radiates (Early). Late 3rd century AD-4th century AD. “Antoninianus” (16.5mm, 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 Unpublished.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, green and brown patina.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 82 (16 September 2009), lot 1056.

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.