Pertinax, 193. Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 3.52 g, 12 h), Rome, 1 January-28 March 193. IMP CAES P HELV PERTIN AVG Laureate head of Pertinax to right. Rev. LIBERATIS CIVIBVS Liberalitas standing front, head to left, holding counting-board in her right hand and cornucopiae in her left. BMC -, cf. p. 2, note *. Cohen 28. Lempereur 28 (D18/R24). RIC 5. Very rare. A very well preserved example of this interesting issue, lightly toned and with an impressive portrait. A few faint marks, otherwise, good very fine.



The very rare reverse legend LIBERATIS CIVIBVS is in the dative, dedicating the coin ‘to the liberated citizens.’ Thus Pertinax presents himself as the vanquisher of a tyrant - an interpretation not without irony, given his own distinguished career under the murdered Commodus. This denarius forms part of the earliest issue of the new ruler, which also features other unusual legends, such as DIS CVSTODIBVS (‘to the guardian gods’) and MENTI LAVDANDAE (‘to the praiseworthy mind/intention’).