The George W. La Borde Collection of Roman Aurei Part I
THE ROMAN EMPIRE
Tacitus, 275 – 276
Aureus, Siscia late 275-early 276, AV 4.07 g. IMP C M CL TA – CITVS P AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. ROMAE AETE – RNAE Roma seated l., holding Victory and sceptre; below seat, shield. C 112. RIC 75. CBN 1718. Calicó 4088 (this obverse die).
Rare and in exceptional state of preservation. Virtually as struck and almost Fdc
This example is published in the forthcoming revised edition of RIC, vol. V-1, online temporary-nr. 3599 (this coin listed amongst 16 specimens known-of which 8 in museums).
Provenance
Sold by Harlan J. Berk, buy-or-bid auction 138, Chicago, 1 June 2004, lot 29.
Inventory of Robert Kokotailo – Calgary Coin Gallery (Alberta, Canada), sold in 28 July 2004.

The origins and career of the Roman emperor Tacitus are uncertain owing to the disputed accounts of several ancient authors, notably the author(s) of the Historia Augusta as well as the historians Eutropius and Aurelius Victor, both of whom left works detailing the reign of Tacitus. While it was claimed that Tacitus came from a wealthy family from Interamna in Italy and was a descendant of the great second century A.D. author, Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus, this is probably nothing more than an invented tale caused by a simple confusion of names and an inference of a noble lineage. The likely truth of the matter is that he was probably just another in the long succession of Danubian soldier-emperors that led Rome during the latter half of the 3rd century. Even Tacitus’ reported venerable age is disputed; he was probably only in his 50s when he ascended the throne, not in his mid-70s as was claimed in the histories. In any case, after his assumption of power, he named his half-brother Florianus as his Praetorian Prefect, paid some deference to the Senate, had Aurelian deified and his murderers persecuted, then set off for the East with his half-brother to confront the serious threat posed by the Herulian and Gothic tribes who at the time were invading Asia Minor from the Caucasus.
In Asia, Tacitus inflicted a resounding defeat on the raiding Goths. Afterwards he took the title Gothicus Maximus and also celebrated the victory on his coinage. While he intended to return to the West in order to repulse barbarian incursions along the Rhine, he was never able to do so as he died at Tyana in Cappadocia soon thereafter. The circumstances surrounding his death are uncertain, and once again reports vary. One mentions that the emperor had fallen ill and died a natural death, and if true it is surprising for no other reason that it was uncommon amongst third century emperors, most having been assassinated. The other possibility is that he was killed by mutinying troops from Syria. In any case, his half-brother, Florianus, declared himself emperor without awaiting the proclamation of the troops or confirmation by the Senate, but he too was killed shortly thereafter while engaging the forces of the general Probus who had been hailed emperor by legions of Syria and Egypt.
In general, Tacitus’ continued the monetary policies of his predecessor, Aurelian. His coins typically offer an optimistic message of a patriotic nature, and the type of ”Eternal Rome” (ROMAE AETERNAE) is especially prevalent. His aurei come in two series: heavy examples weighing about 6.5 grams and averaging around 50 to the pound, and light examples weighing about 4.6 grams and averaging either 70 or 72 to the pound. The portraits of the emperor on the lighter issues are always laureate, but those of the heavier issues come both laureate and radiate, perhaps indicating that they functioned as biniones or ”doubles.”