Author Topic: Revolt of Poemenius  (Read 2398 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Victor

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4100
  • Country: us
  • all my best friends are dead Romans
    • Victor's Imperial Coins
Revolt of Poemenius
« on: January 30, 2014, 02:11:10 PM »
I just got this coin from Germany, it is not in great shape and doesn't look like much, but it has an interesting story.

This type was only struck at Trier and is attributed to the period known as the Revolt of Poemenius. This event would be completely lost to history except for the brief passage in Ammianus 15.6.4: “...Poemenius was condemned as a malefactor, hailed to execution and perished; he was the man (as we have told above) who was chosen to protect his fellow-citizens when Trier closed its gates against Decentius Caesar”.

Sometime in A.D. 353, the citizens of Trier revolted against Decentius and declared their support of Constantius II (SALVS AVG NOSTRI = Safety of our Augustus). Unfortunately for Poemenius, he was executed in A.D. 355, probably for his support of Silvanus.

Constantius II
Circa A.D. 353
22x23mm   7.0gm
DN CONSTANTIVS P F AVG; rosette diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
SALVS AVG NOSTRI; Chi-Rho flanked by A and W
In ex. TRP star
RIC VIII Trier 333



Offline Victor

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4100
  • Country: us
  • all my best friends are dead Romans
    • Victor's Imperial Coins
Re: Revolt of Poemenius
« Reply #1 on: February 08, 2014, 12:05:39 PM »
The Wellbourn hoard, which was found in England in 1998 and consisted of 412 coins, is of particular interest to those studying this obscure issue. There were 25 examples in the hoard with three portrait types- some resembling Constantine I, Magnentius and others depicting Constantius I. Bastien believes that the coins were issued for only a single month- July A.D. 353, but Sanchez argues that the wide assortment of portrait styles and weights evidenced ( heaviest 7.7gm lightest 4.8 gm) by this hoard suggests that they may have been issued for longer.

Offline Genio popvli romani

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 285
  • Country: fr
Re: Revolt of Poemenius
« Reply #2 on: February 08, 2014, 04:49:01 PM »
Interesting.
There were 40 coins in the bridgnorth hoard (2007), but I have never seen the description of the hoard excepted from yorkcoins which has sold a part of this hoard.
http://www.yorkcoins.com/bridgnorth_hoard.htm
ROMA CAPVT MVNDI REGIT ORBIS FRENA ROTVNDI

Offline Victor

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4100
  • Country: us
  • all my best friends are dead Romans
    • Victor's Imperial Coins
Re: Revolt of Poemenius
« Reply #3 on: February 08, 2014, 06:35:41 PM »
I have never seen the description of the hoard

Hopefully it will be in the next volume of Coin Hoards from Roman Britain.

I have a Magnentius FELICITAS REIPVBLICE from the Bridgnorth Hoard.

Offline Genio popvli romani

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 285
  • Country: fr
Re: Revolt of Poemenius
« Reply #4 on: February 09, 2014, 06:55:38 AM »
Would be great!
It is also very interesting for Ambianum coinage which is the most represented in this hoard.
ROMA CAPVT MVNDI REGIT ORBIS FRENA ROTVNDI