Tacitus receiving wreath from Victory Rare 275AD Ancient Roman Coin i54443

Item: i54443

Authentic Ancient

Coin of:

Tacitus –

Roman Emperor
 275-276 A.D. –

Silvered

Bronze Antoninianus 22mm (4.42 grams) Ticinum mint: 275-276 A.D.
Reference: RIC 167
IMPCMCLTACITVSAVG – Radiate, draped bust right.
SPESPVBLICA Exe.: V – Tacitus standing left on right, holding spear, receiving

wreath from Victory to left, holding palm.

You are bidding on the exact

Guarantee of Authenticity.

In
ancient Roman religion
, Victoria was the
personified
goddess of victory. She is the
Roman equivalent
of the
Greek goddess

Nike
, and was associated with
Bellona
. She was adapted from the
Sabine
agricultural goddess
Vacuna
and had a
temple
on the
Palatine Hill
. The goddess
Vica Pota
was also sometimes identified with
Victoria.

Unlike the Greek
Nike
, the goddess Victoria (Latin
for “victory”) was a major part of Roman society. Multiple temples were erected
in her honor. When her statue was removed in 382 CE by Emperor
Gratianus
there was much anger in Rome. She was
normally worshiped by
triumphant
generals returning from war.

Also unlike the Greek Nike, who was known for success in athletic games such
as
chariot races
, Victoria was a symbol of victory
over death and determined who would be successful during war.

Victoria appears widely on Roman coins, jewelry, architecture, and other
arts. She is often seen with or in a
chariot
, as in the late 18th-century sculpture
representing Victory in a
quadriga
on the
Brandenburg Gate
in
Berlin
, Germany; “Il Vittoriano”
in Rome has two.

Winged figures, very often in pairs, representing victory and referred to as
“victories”, were common in Roman official iconography, typically hovering high
in a composition, and often filling spaces in
spandrels
or other gaps in architecture. These
represent the spirit of victory rather than the goddess herself. They continued
to appear after Christianization of the Empire, and slowly mutated into
Christian angels
.

Marcus Claudius Tacitus (ca. 200 – June 276) was a

Roman Emperor

from September 25 275, to June 276.

 Biography

He was born in Interamna

(Terni), in

Italia

. He circulated copies of the historian

Gaius Cornelius Tacitus

‘ work, which was barely read at the time, and so we

perhaps have him to thank for the partial survival of Tacitus’ work; however,

modern historiography

rejects his claimed descent from the historian as forgery. In the course of his

long life he discharged the duties of various civil offices, including that of

consul
in 273,

with universal respect.

After the assassination of

Aurelian
,

he was chosen by the

Senate

to succeed him, and the choice was cordially ratified by the army. His first

action was to move against the barbarian tribes that had been gathered by

Aurelian for his Eastern campaign, and which had plundered the Eastern Roman

provinces after Aurelian had been murdered and the campaign cancelled. His

half-brother, the Praetorian Prefect

Florianus
,

and Tacitus himself won a victory against these tribes, among which

Heruli
, which

granted the emperor the title Gothicus Maximus.

Tacitus probably died of fever (according to

Aurelius Victor

,

Eutropius

and the

Historia Augusta

) – though

Zosimus

claims he was assassinated – at

Tyana
in

Cappadocia

in June 276.