Jotapian, usurper, circa 248-249. Antoninianus (Billon, 23 mm, 4.14 g, 12 h), Nicopolis in Seleucis (?). IMP M F RV IOTAPIANVS Radiate and cuirassed bust of Jotapian to right, seen from behind. Rev. VIC-TORIA AVGV Victory advancing left, holding wreath in her right hand and palm over her left shoulder with her left. Bland, Jotapian, 3 (Obv. die I/Rev. die ii). Bland -. Cohen -. RIC -. Very rare. Struck on a very broad flan and featuring one of the finest surviving portraits of this ephemeral usurper. Somewhat rough and slightly bent, and with traces of overstriking (?), otherwise, very fine.



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.