Postumus, Romano-Gallic Emperor, 260-269. Antoninianus (Billon, 20 mm, 2.99 g, 6 h), Cologne, late 268. IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Postumus to right. Rev. C C A A COS IIII Aequitas standing front, head to left, holding scales in her right hand and cornucopiae in her left. AGK (corr.) 2. Cunetio 2466. Elmer 585. RIC 285. Extremely rare and of great historical interest. The obverse weakly struck and slightly rough, otherwise, very fine.


This is one of those coins that give 'Gallic Empire' enthusiasts a racing heart: the reverse abbreviation C C A A is to be expanded to Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium, the ancient name of what is nowadays Cologne in Germany. The city had been Postumus' main base and mint since his revolt in 260 (and before, since 257, of Gallienus), but its proximity to the ever-endangered frontier became increasingly problematic. This eventually lead to the opening of a second mint in the strategically better located town of Treveri (Trier) in the late 260s. Although Aurelian closed the Gallic mints after his reconquest of the northwestern provinces in 274, Treveri would rise to even greater importance in the 4th century when it became one of the capitals of the Roman Empire and harbored one of its principal mints. The front line city of Cologne, however, continued to decline in importance, with only distant memories of its short time of imperial glory between 257 and 274.