RIC V Online 3505

Roman Empire, Tacitus (275-276), Aurelianus, Rome mint, 2nd emission, 7th officina.

Obverse: IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front; 

Reverse: CLEM-ENTIA TEMP, Mars in military dress standing left, holding olive branch in right hand, spear and shield which rests on ground in left hand, Z in right field, XXI in exergue; 

Notes: The CLEMENTIA TEMP coins are amongst the most common types of Tacitus' initial issues at Rome, and they were also issued at Serdica, Antioch and Tripolis; Mars is depicted in his role as peacebringer and creator of a new age of peace for the Romans by defeating their enemies. It is also worth mentioning that, being from the beginning of Tacitus' reign, this coin has the early portrait style, which would later be changed at the beginning of 276, when the Emperor entered the city. Some have suggested that this implies that the story of Tacitus being an elderly senator who was elected by the Senate and entered Rome as a private citizen is incorrect, and he instead was the commander of the troops on the limes, since this would explain why his first emission from Lugdunum, the closest mint city, employs plenty of military and consular busts and also never changes his portrait style through his reign.

Reference : RIC V 83; RIC V Online 3505; La Venera 251-255; Gloucester 680;

Collection : Tacitus - Rome