Item number: A1880

Year: AD 260-269

Material: Silver

Size: 19.9 x 18.5 mm

Weight: 3.54 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2015

This is an Antoninianus coin issued by the Gallic Empire, which seceded from the Roman Empire during the period known as the Crisis of the Third Century. The Antoninianus had a nominal value equivalent to two denarii and was composed of silver.

The obverse of the coin features a right-facing portrait of Postumus, the founder of the Gallic Empire. The emperor is depicted wearing a cuirass (breastplate), with a diadem tied around his head and a radiate crown. Surrounding the portrait is a Latin inscription, “IMP C POSTVMVS PF AVG,” which translates to “Emperor Caesar Postumus, Pious and Fortunate Augustus.”

The reverse of the coin is more weakly struck compared to the obverse, but it still faintly depicts a left-facing standing figure of Hercules, the legendary hero of Roman mythology. In his left hand, Hercules holds an olive branch, symbolising victory and peace, while in his right hand, he grasps a club and a lion’s skin. Surrounding the figure is the circular Latin inscription “HERC PACIFERO,” which translates to “To Hercules, the Bringer of Peace.”

The Gallic Empire existed from AD 260 to AD 274, encompassing regions such as Gaul, Britain, and the Iberian Peninsula. In AD 253, the Roman Emperor Valerian, to counter the invasion of the Sassanian Empire, withdrew elite troops stationed along the Rhine River to defend the eastern borders of the empire. This left the Rhine frontier vulnerable to barbarian invasions, which caused discontent among the Gallic legions, led by Postumus. Despite Valerian sending his grandson Saloninus to take command at the frontline in Cologne, Saloninus was eventually killed by Postumus. Supported by his troops, Postumus declared independence and was acknowledged by other legions stationed in Britain and the Iberian Peninsula. He declared himself emperor and established a senate, maintaining this position until he was murdered in AD 269. The Roman Empire would not reclaim these territories until AD 273, when Emperor Aurelian successfully reconquered Gaul and other lost lands.

物件編號: A1880

年代: 公元 260-269 年

材質: 銀

尺寸: 19.9 x 18.5 mm

重量: 3.54 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2015

這是一枚在羅馬歷史上的「三世紀危機」之際，從羅馬帝國分離出去的高盧帝國發行的安敦尼幣。安敦尼幣的面額相當於兩枚第納里烏斯，其材質為銀。

錢幣正面是高盧帝國開創者波斯圖穆斯的右側肖像，皇帝身著胸甲，頭上綁著緞帶和帶著皇冠。人像周圍以拉丁文打印頭銜「IMP C POSTVMVS PF AVG」意思是「神聖幸運的奧古斯都皇帝 凱撒 波斯圖穆斯」。

錢幣背面的打印力道較正面薄弱，但是尚能依稀識別出中間是羅馬神話的大力士赫丘利左側站立像。赫丘利的左手握著一株象徵勝利跟和平的橄欖枝，右手則是握著一根棍棒和獅子皮。周圍的環形銘文「HERC PACIFERO」意思是「獻給和平締造者赫丘利」。

高盧帝國是存續於公元260至274年，一度涵蓋高盧、不列顛和伊比利半島等地區。公元253年，時任羅馬皇帝瓦勒良為了抵擋薩珊王朝入侵，將駐紮於萊茵河抵擋蠻族入侵的精兵調往帝國的東境，導致蠻族大舉騷擾萊茵河的邊境地區，引發波斯圖穆斯為首的高盧軍團不滿。即便瓦勒良派遣太子薩洛尼努斯前往前線基帕拿(科隆)督軍，但最終仍遭到波斯圖穆斯的殺害。波斯圖穆斯在部屬的支持下宣布獨立，並且得到駐紮於不列顛和伊比利半島的其他軍團響應，波斯圖穆斯自稱為皇帝和設立元老院，直到公元269年遭到屬下謀殺為止。而羅馬帝國直到公元273年，在皇帝奧勒良領導下方才重新收復高盧等地的失土。