ROMAN WORLD - Roman Empire - Clodius Albinus, as Caesar,...
ROMAN WORLD - Roman Empire - Clodius Albinus, as Caesar, 193-195. Aureus 193, Rome. D CLOD SEPT AL - BIN CAES Bust of Clodius Albinus right, slightly draped / SAECVLO FRVG - IF - ERO COS II African divinity standing facing, head right, holding caduceus and a trident. 7,24g. Calicó 2423 (same dies); RIC 9b var.
Provenance: CNG Fixed Price List 42 (12 January 2017), 429032.
Grading/Status: A great rarity of the late 2nd century. Splendid. As struck.
Notes
Following the death of Pertinax, Clodius Albinus, who commanded the legions in Britain, emerged as one of the most credible contenders for the imperial throne. He eventually reached an agreement with Septimius Severus, who appointed him Caesar. It is in this context that the legend of this aureus associates the names of Clodius Albinus and Septimius Severus.
The reverse legend SAECVLO FRVGIFERO announces a fruitful age. This formula had already appeared on the denarii of Pertinax (RIC 12), suggesting a deliberate attempt by Clodius Albinus to associate himself with the memory and legitimacy of the last legitimate emperor, elevated to power by the Senate.
The identity of the deity remains controversial. It was probably connected with Aion Karpophoros (Saeculo Frugifero in latin), a Greek name that may refer to a North African deity worshipped at Hadrumetum, the hometown of Clodius Albinus. There would therefore appear to be a tribute to the native province of Clodius Albinus, which was also the homeland of Septimius Severus. In the 18th century, the type fascinated the numismatist Johann Eckhel, who argued that the figure should be understood as a composite deity. Its radiate crown probably alludes to the importance of sunlight for the growth of crops. The caduceus and grain ears may refer to Mercury, protector of merchants, while the trident would clearly evoke Neptune. The imagery could therefore allude to the nourishing role of the North African cities, which produced and exported the grain essential to the food supply of the Roman Empire.
ROMAN WORLD - Roman Empire - Clodius Albinus, as Caesar, 193-195. Aureus 193, Rome. D CLOD SEPT AL - BIN CAES Bust of Clodius Albinus right, slightly draped / SAECVLO FRVG - IF - ERO COS II African divinity standing facing, head right, holding caduceus and a trident. 7,24g. Calicó 2423 (same dies); RIC 9b var.
Provenance: CNG Fixed Price List 42 (12 January 2017), 429032.
Grading/Status: A great rarity of the late 2nd century. Splendid. As struck.
Notes
Following the death of Pertinax, Clodius Albinus, who commanded the legions in Britain, emerged as one of the most credible contenders for the imperial throne. He eventually reached an agreement with Septimius Severus, who appointed him Caesar. It is in this context that the legend of this aureus associates the names of Clodius Albinus and Septimius Severus.
The reverse legend SAECVLO FRVGIFERO announces a fruitful age. This formula had already appeared on the denarii of Pertinax (RIC 12), suggesting a deliberate attempt by Clodius Albinus to associate himself with the memory and legitimacy of the last legitimate emperor, elevated to power by the Senate.
The identity of the deity remains controversial. It was probably connected with Aion Karpophoros (Saeculo Frugifero in latin), a Greek name that may refer to a North African deity worshipped at Hadrumetum, the hometown of Clodius Albinus. There would therefore appear to be a tribute to the native province of Clodius Albinus, which was also the homeland of Septimius Severus. In the 18th century, the type fascinated the numismatist Johann Eckhel, who argued that the figure should be understood as a composite deity. Its radiate crown probably alludes to the importance of sunlight for the growth of crops. The caduceus and grain ears may refer to Mercury, protector of merchants, while the trident would clearly evoke Neptune. The imagery could therefore allude to the nourishing role of the North African cities, which produced and exported the grain essential to the food supply of the Roman Empire.
