★ The Finest of Four Known ★

Numerian Silvered BI Denarius. Lugdunum, spring-summer AD 283. IMP NVMERIANVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right, holding spear over left shoulder / SPES PVBLICA, Carinus and Numerian on horseback to right, both raising their right hands in salute. RIC p. 192, note 1 var. (differing bust type); C. 90 var. (same); Bastien 526 (same dies). 2.87g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine; preserved with near complete silvering. Extremely Rare; the finest of only four known specimens (three noted by Bastien).

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG.

The denarii of Numerian are of very great rarity. The last reigning emperor to have used the denarius as the principal silver denomination of the Roman currency intended for regular circulation was Maximinus I (235-238), some forty five years before this coin was produced. The reign of his successor Gordian III (238-244) saw the ‘Antoninianus’ or double-denarius become, virtually overnight, the mainstay of the Roman currency, due to the inflationary pressures of the early third century in part caused by ever greater military expenditure and associated successive debasements of the coinage. The denarius, though not yet relegated to the status of a mere unit of account, was already then a critically endangered species. Issued sporadically throughout the reign of Gordian III, mass production of the denarius came to an end with the fourth issue at Rome in 241-243. By the time of Philip I’s accession in 244 the common use of the Antoninianus was well entrenched; Philip himself issued only three denarius types that were all issued for specific commemorative purposes. The practice of striking commemorative denarii, perhaps to be distributed at state level celebrations as quaint mementoes, continued until the reign of Diocletian, whereupon use of the denomination ceased entirely.

The present coin was part of a celebratory emission issued in spring-summer 283 for the elevation of Carinus and Numerian to the rank of augusti. Having adult sons to whom he could entrust military or civil command, Carus may have aspired to dynastic longevity; such is the tone of the reverse of this coin which depicts Carinus and Numerian on horseback under the legend “public hope”, which may be interpreted as the hope for a peaceful succession and the avoidance of renewed civil war.