LEGEND
Obv: IMP C M AN FLORIANVS P AVG Radiate and cuirassed bust of Florian facing right. Rev: PRO – VIDEN D – EOR Providentia standing right, holding two ensigns, facing Sol radiate standing left, raising right hand and holding globe; star in lower centre, officina A in exergue.

Emperor Florian, named Imperator Caesar Marcus Annius Florianus Pius Felix Invictus Augustus ruled Rome in 276 AD for just 88 days. He was thought to be the maternal half-brother to Emperor Tacitus. Following Tacitus’ death, Florian seized the throne and declared himself Emperor. However, most Senate and Roman armies preferred the rival General Probus, successfully overseeing the eastern Empire. The two soon declared war on each other only to find Florian soon murdered by his own troops in Tarsus, just prior to battle. This rare coin depicts Florian with his head turned right with bust torso below turned three-quarter left, revealing his cuirassed breastplate and military vestments, including the ornamented baltearius as seen over his right shoulder to support his sword. He is wearing the emperors radiate crown and displays a neatly groomed beard with tiny stylized curls below his jaw, remarkably similar in appearance to his predecessors Aurelian and Tacitus. The reverse depicts Providentia, goddess of divine providence, standing as honorary standard bearer between two military ensigns or signum. Bearing the military signum is a privileged role designed to instill order among the legions and was a powerful symbol of Roman army pride. Providentia also faces the radiate sun god Sol holding a globe as he raises his extended left hand in a gesture of blessing. Sol is the Roman god of the sun and was declared a primary divinity of worship and prestige by Aurelian, presumably after his faith in Sol coincided with eastern Empire victories. Sol was also renamed Sol Invicticus (invincible) by Aurelian in 274 AD, whose vicarious embodiment is found added to Florian’s Imperator title. A star appears in the lower field reverse between the two figures, indicating coinage from the mint of Serdic, with an officina workshop stamp “A” in exergue below.

DOCUMENTATION
Value:Antoninianus. Metal:Billon(5%AR)Weight:4.38 grams. Mint:Serdica. Date:June-Aug 276AD
Attribution: C70. RIC 110. CBN 1973 (different officina); Estiot 2922.