Postumus, 259 – 268. Aureus, Cologne January-June 266, AV 21 mm, 6.63 g. POSTVMVS PIVS FELIX AVG Jugate busts of Postumus and Hercules r. Rev. FELICITAS AVG Jugate busts r. of Victory, holding wreath and palm, and Pax, holding olive branch. C 45. Elmer 452. RIC 329.15 (this coin). Jameson 271. Schulte 109b (this coin). Calicó 3720. Extremely rare. A coin of great beauty with two impressive jugate portraits of excellent style struck on a very broad flan. Almost invisible marks, otherwise extremely fineGraded AU*, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Fine Style, NGC photo certificate number 8494937-003 Ex Rollin & Feuardent 14-26 May 1988, de Quelen, 1750; Rollin & Feuardent 20-26 April 1896, Montagu, 656; Sotheby's 10 November 1972, Metropolitan, 188 and Künker 419, 2025, 535 sales. As the extravagant appearance of this aureus would suggest, it was struck at a moment of relative security in the western provinces ruled by the rebel Postumus. Its reverse trumpets the happiness of the emperor (FELICITAS AVG) and, in essence, depicts victory and peace in union, something rarely found on other ancient coins. Postumus had good grounds to make such claims, for he had ruled over the impoverished and vulnerable West more effectively than the ordained emperors Valerian and Gallienus, who were constantly distracted by crises elsewhere. But Postumus’ success did not prevent Gallienus from trying to remove him from power. Two attempts were made in quick succession in 265. The first failed, or perhaps was sabotaged by Gallienus’ cavalry commander Aureolus, who three years later became Postumus’ ally by holding Milan against Gallienus. Zonaras tells us the second attempt ended when Gallienus was wounded by an arrow during the siege of an unnamed Gallic town into which Postumus had been driven. This aureus was struck in 266, in the aftermath of Gallienus’ failed attempts. Thus, on the reverse we find the conjoined busts of victory and peace as a cheerful expression of the state of the union. On the obverse Postumus assimilates himself with the hero Hercules, his comes (companion) in preserving the empire. The accompanying inscription, which describes Postumus as the dutiful and happy (PIVS FELIX) emperor, is more explicit than usual, and was used by this emperor only on coins of special character, notably on pieces relating to his quinquennalia. It is worth noting that the secondary figure on the reverse, the diademed goddess who holds an olive branch, is described as Felicitas by most scholars (Mattingly and Sydenham, Carson, Schulte and Cohen), presumably because of the inscription. However, the main objects associated with Felicitas are a caduceus, cornucopia or a sceptre, and this goddess holds a branch, which clearly identifies her as Pax. This was the conclusion drawn by Kent (Roman Coins, no. 510). It would seem the inscription, FELICITAS AVG, merely expresses a general sentiment, and plays no role in the identification of the secondary figure. Please find here the video of the coin