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In mid 260s AD, Marcus Piauonius Victorinus (died 271 AD) forged a military career under his uncle Postumus, founder of a new imperial spin-out known today as the Romano-Gallic Empire. Victorinus was elevated to important stations such as praetorian tribune in 267 AD and co-consul in 268 AD. The following year, in all-too-familiar trend, Postumus was killed by his own disaffected troops, who chose Marius as his successor. The development did not sit well with Victorinus; as Postumus’ co-consul and nephew, he should be the rightful heir. A few months later, Victorinus managed a coup, resulting in Marius’s elimination and his own placement on the Romano-Gallic throne.
Following Victorinus’ ascension, only three of his territories acknowledged him: Gaul, Germania, and Britannia. In a troubling development, Hispania declared loyalty to the Augustus in Rome, Claudius Gothicus. The latter sent in one of his generals to strengthen Rome’s position in the region. Fearing retaliation, other Romano-Gallic territories also reunited to Rome, most importantly the strategic city of Augustodunum (modern-day Autun, France), founded and named after Rome’s very first Emperor.
Victorinus knew that if he lost Augustodunum, other parts of Gaul would likely follow, and his realm would fall apart. Victorinus collected his armies together and besieged the city. The campaign took seven months before achieving its goal. Shrewdly, Victorinus allowed his troops to plunder the city afterwards (thus avoiding his uncle’s fate, see the comments under Postumus’ coin).
The success marked the acme of Victorinus’ reign, contemporaneous with striking this double-denarius at the Treveri (Trier) mint. The obverse bust of Victorinus is draped and cuirassed, replete with radiate crown. The depiction resembles Postumus, eager to promote his imperial lineage. The verso features Pax, the Roman goddess of peace, along with the inscription PAX AVG, signifying the peace of the Augustus.
Victorinus managed to maintain peace, if only temporarily. After the success at Augustodunum, Victorinus moved his court to Germania, where, in 271 AD, he was slain by one of his officers. Reportedly, Victorinus was having an affair with the officer’s wife, who killed his commander in jealousy. Everyone was caught unawares, and Victorinus’ mother Victoria (Postumus’ sister and last dynast of that lineage) coordinated her son’s succession.
Coin Details: ROMANO-GALLIC EMPIRE, Victorinus, AD 269-271, BI Double-Denarius (19mm, 2.45 g, 7h), Treveri (Trier) mint, 3rd emission, 3rd phase, early-mid AD 270, NGC Grade: MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Obverse: Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, IMP C VICTORINVS P F AVG, Reverse: Pax standing left, holding olive branch and transverse scepter; V to left, star to right, PAX AVG, References: RIC V 118; Mairat 261-3; AGK 14b.
Image: Sony ɑ 7R Ⅴ camera / Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS lens.