Ancient Coins

Tetricus I and II (c. 274), Tetricus I and II (c. 274), Aureus, c. 274, Cologne or Trier, IMPP TERICI PII AVGG, conjoined draped busts of Tetricus I and II right, laureate and bare headed respectively, rev. VIRTVS MILITVM, Virtus standing right with spear and Victory about to crown Tetricus I, standing left in military dress, holding globe and spear, 4.39g/6h (Schulte, Die Goldprägung der gallischen Kaisaer von Postumus bis Tetricus, 58a, this coin; RIC 211; Elmer 866; Calicó 3928). Extremely fine with brilliant fields, a superb specimen; only two examples cited by Schulte (£10,000-15,000)

Provenance:
From the Planche Trésor (Lyon, France), 1889
Bank Leu Auction 36 (Zurich), 7-8 May 1985, lot 327.

Illustrated on the front cover. See E. Poncet, Le trésor de Planche, RN 1889. This extremely rare joint reign issue belongs chronologically to the end of the rule of Tetricus I in 274, when he elevated his son to both the augustate and consulate. The overriding threat of imminent Germanic invasion judiciously induced Tetricus to suppress his ambitions and surrender to the manifestly successful Aurelian, who after displaying him in triumph, in his magnanimity, made him governor of Lucania