🔥 Roman Empire – Bi Double Denarius of Victorinus (AD 269–271)
Romano-Gallic Empire | NGC Ancients Graded AU – About Uncirculated
🔐 Certificate #: 4680469-056 | 📍 ex South Petherton Hoard
 
⚔️ A Rare Relic from a Breakaway Empire
This Billon Double Denarius (Antoninianus) was struck under Victorinus, emperor of the Romano-Gallic Empire—a secessionist state that broke from central Roman control during the Crisis of the Third Century. Ruling from AD 269 to 271, Victorinus was a soldier-emperor who commanded loyalty across Gaul and Britannia amid military upheaval and imperial fragmentation.
 
Victorinus rose to power following the assassination of his predecessor, Marius, and maintained the Gallic breakaway empire against threats from both internal dissent and Roman loyalists. Though his rule lasted just under two years, his coinage remained stylistically faithful to Roman tradition, preserving the imperial aesthetic in a fractured world.
 
According to later historians, Victorinus was assassinated in a domestic scandal involving the wife of one of his officers—adding personal drama to his already precarious rule. His mother, Victorina, played a critical role in ensuring dynastic continuity after his death.
 
🧾 Coin Specifications
👑 Emperor: Victorinus
🪙 Denomination: Bi Double Denarius (Antoninianus)
⚖️ Material: Billon (silver-alloy)
📆 Reign: AD 269–271
🏛️ Grading Company: NGC Ancients Certification# 4680469-056
🔍 Grade: AU – About Uncirculated
📍 Provenance: ex South Petherton Hoard, Somerset, UK
 
🏺 About the South Petherton Hoard
This coin originates from the South Petherton Hoard, discovered in Somerset, England—a major archaeological find consisting of over 1,000 Roman coins buried in the late third century. Likely hidden during political instability or barbarian incursions, the hoard offers a snapshot of the monetary system in the waning days of Roman rule in Britain.
 
Highlights of the hoard:
📆 Dated to around AD 270
🔍 Contained coins of Victorinus, Tetricus I, and Claudius II Gothicus
🏺 Preserved in remarkably high grades, suggesting intentional hoarding or mint-proximate burial
🧾 Carefully documented and partially acquired by museums and collectors
 
Coins from this hoard are sought after for their quality, authenticity, and historic context, and this specimen is among the finest known for Victorinus in AU condition.
 
✅ Why This Coin Matters
🔐 Certified by NGC Ancients – Fully authenticated and encapsulated
📦 From the South Petherton Hoard – Documented archaeological provenance
🪙 High Grade (AU) – Exceptional preservation, near full detail
🧠 Tells the Story of Rome’s Fragmentation – A tangible piece of civil war and secession
 
This Victorinus Bi Double Denarius is not just rare—it’s nearly uncirculated, historically grounded, and visually compelling. Ideal for collectors of breakaway empires, hoard coins, or the chaotic third-century Roman timeline.