Billon Antoninianus of Postumus RIC 20

Billon Antoninianus (21mm, 3.63g) Struck A.D. 260-8 Lugdunum

Obv: IMP POSTVMVS P F AVG Radiate draped and cuirassed bust right.

Rev: HERC DEVSONIENSI Hercules standing right, leaning on club, holding lion skin and bow

RIC V ii 20 C. 90, Sear 10944
ex. Common Bronze 

1. The Backstory: A Breakaway Empire

Around 260 AD, the Roman Empire was suffering a massive mid-life crisis. Barbarians were invading, and the main Roman Emperor, Valerian, had just been captured by the Persians. Seizing the moment, a gritty general named Postumus broke away from Rome and set up his own regional superpower: the Gallic Empire (covering modern-day France, Spain, Germany, and Britain).

Postumus didn't want to destroy Rome; he just wanted to prove he could run his chunk of it better. This coin was his way of broadcasting his power and legitimacy.

2. The Front (Obverse): "I'm the Boss"

On the front of the coin, you see the profile of Postumus himself.

• The Inscription: IMP POSTVMVS P F AVG
  • This is short for Imperator Postumus Pius Felix Augustus. It translates to "Emperor Postumus, Pious and Dutiful, Blessed and Fortunate, Emperor." He's using the absolute highest titles possible to say, "I am a legitimate Roman Emperor, not just some warlord."
• The Spiky Crown: He is wearing a radiate crown (the spikes look like sunbeams). In Roman coin language, this crown was a clever way to show the denomination. It meant this was an antoninianus, a coin worth two standard denarii.

3. The Back (Reverse): Local PR Magic

The back of this coin is where things get really interesting and unique to Postumus's local strategy.

• The Inscription: HERC DEVSONIENSI
  • This means "To Hercules of Deuso." Deuso was a specific town (likely modern-day Diessen in the Netherlands) where Postumus had won a massive military victory against Germanic invaders.
• The Image: It shows the mythological hero Hercules leaning casually on his famous club, holding a bow and the skin of the Nemean Lion.

The Hidden Message: By honoring Hercules of Deuso, Postumus was doing some brilliant regional PR. Instead of thanking the traditional, distant gods of Rome, he was thanking a local, homegrown version of Hercules. He was telling his citizens in Gaul and Germany: "The gods of Rome didn't save you from the barbarians—I did, with the help of our local protector Hercules. You are safe under my watch."