Roman Imperial Coinage - RIC 4c, Pacatian (248-249 AD)

Very little is known of the usurper Tiberius Claudius Marinus Pacatianus, who seized power in Upper Moesia in AD 248. Pacatian was likely killed by his own troops shortly after he seized control. Most of our information about Pacatian comes from his coinage. Viminacium is the most probable site for his mint, and a comparison with the local aes coinage shows remarkable similarity of style. Seven different reverses were used on the antoniniani of Pacatian -- Concordia, Felicitas, Fides, Fortuna, Pax, Roma and Victory -- all common themes in the third century. Such a variety of reverse types would suggest a large issue of coins, though today all coins of Pacatian are very rare, with only about 100 specimens of all varieties known.

RIC #	Picture	Description	Rarity
AR denarius - RIC 4c, 1a		Pacatian. Usurper, circa AD 248-249. AR Antoninianus (4.71 g, 8h). Viminacium mint. 1st emission. IMP TI CL MAR PACATIANVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / CONCORDIA MILITVM, Concordia seated left, holding patera in right hand, cradling double cornucopia in left arm. RIC IV 1a; Szaivert, Beginn 2; RSC 2; Hunter -. (Image courtesy CNG)
AR denarius - RIC 4c, 1 var		Pacatian. Usurper, circa AD 248-249. AR Antoninianus (4.41 g, 7h). Viminacium mint. 2nd emission. IMP TI CL MAR PACATIANVS P F AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / CONCORDIA NILITVX (sic), Concordia seated left, holding patera in extended right hand, cradling two cornucopias in left arm. RIC IV 1 var. (rev. legend); Szaivert, Beginn 2 var. (same); RSC 1 var. (same); Gorny & Mosch 121, lot 492 var. (same; same obv. die). (Image courtesy CNG)
AR antoninianus - RIC 4c, 5		Pacatian. Usurper, circa AD 248-249. AR Antoninianus (20mm, 4.55 g, 6h). Viminacium mint. 2nd emission. IMP TI CL MAR PACATIANVS P F AV, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / PAX AETERNA, Pax standing left, holding branch in outstretched right hand and transverse scepter in left hand. RIC IV 5; Szaivert, Beginn 8; RSC 6. (Image courtesy CNG)
AR antoninianus - RIC 4c, 5 var		PACATIAN. Circa 248-249 AD. AR Antoninianus (4.22 gm). Viminacium mint. IMP TI CL MAR PACATIANVS F P A, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / PA[X] AE[T]ERNA, Pax standing left, holding branch and transverse sceptre. RIC IV 5 var.; RSC 6 var. (Image courtesy CNG)
AR denarius - RIC 4c, 6 var		PACATIAN. 248-249 AD. AR Antoninianus (4.38 gm). Viminacium mint. Dated 248 AD. IMP TI CL MAR PACATIANVS P F I(N...), radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / ROMAE AETER AN MIL ET PRIMO, Roma seated left on shield, holding Victory with wreath, and spear. RIC IV 6 (IMP TI CL MAR PACATIANVS AVG); Hunter -; cf. Cohen 7 (same); RSC 7. (Image courtesy CNG)