Early Postumus Antoninianus (Summer 260 AD) with long legend and spelling mistake.
Obv: IMP C M CASS LAT POSTIMVS (sic!) P F AVG
Rv: VICTORIA AVG
This coin is part of the first emission of Postumus, issued short after the downfall of Saloninus and the capture of the Cologne mint. The portrait is still reminiscent of Gallienus and the full name of the new emperor is given to announce the change in government. It was in the 1983 Cunetio hoard publication, where the consistent spelling error POSTIMVS of the usurper's first emission was first noticed. A curious mistake that offers us a glimpse of the turmoil and confusion that must have surrounded the regime change. After the situation had calmed down, the mint started crafting new dies with a more accurate portrait and shortened IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG titulature.
Very rare issue with the early and erroneous obverse legend of Postumus. Only two reverse types were struck in Postumus\' first issue, SALVS PROVINCIARVM with a representation of the Rhine river god, and VICTORIA AVG. This coin is from the 2nd phase of the first emission. The obv. legend is still flawed, but the facial features have evolved and now better resemble those of Postumus.
The authors of Cunetio discovered that all past studies (Cohen, Eimer, etc.) completely missed this, and assumed the coins read POSTVMVS. Thus, these authors cite the legend incorrectly. Also, RIC 87 mistakenly does not even list the full legend variety of the first phase, even though it cites Cohen 353, which is of this long legend phase.
Few pieces known from which this is among the nicest portrait.
3,59 Gramm, 23mm
Cologne mint
Collection : Gallic Empire/Empire Gaulois/Gallisches Sonderreich