Jotapian, usurper, circa 248-249. Antoninianus (Billon, 23 mm, 4.18 g, 12 h), Nicopolis in Seleucis (?). IM C M F R IOTAPIANV[S AV]G Radiate and cuirassed bust of Jotapian to right, seen from behind.
Rev. VICT-ORIA AVGV Victory advancing left, holding wreath in her right hand and palm over her left shoulder. Bland, Jotapian, 7 (Obv. die V/Rev. die xii). Bland - (unlisted dies). Cohen -. RIC -. Very rare and among the finest known examples, with a well readable name and an excellent portrait. Somewhat rough and with minor deposits
, otherwise, good very fine.
From a European collection, formed before 2005.
Jotapian was a Roman army commander of royal Commagenean descent who led a revolt in 248 or 249 in response to the heavy tax burden imposed on the eastern provinces by Priscus, the
rector orientis and brother of Emperor Philip I Arab. The revolt was apparently unsuccessful, as Jotapian failed to control any major cities or mints, and little more than fifty of his coins have survived. These coins are of a crude, provincial style and may have been struck in Nicopolis, a city in Seleucis north of Antioch. Jotapian was captured in late 249, and his head was presented to Trajan Decius, who had by then defeated and replaced Philip I.
