Lot 2143

Description

Clodius Albinus, as Caesar, (A.D. 195-197), silver denarius, Rome mint, issued A.D. 194-5, obv. bare head of Clodius Albinus to right, around D CLOD SEPT ALBIN CAES, rev. Minerva standing to left, holding branch spear and shield, around MINER PA CIF COS II, (S.1728, RIC 7, BMC 98). Good very fine and rare in this condition.

Governor of Britain at the time of Pertinax's assassination. Decimus Clodius Albinus foolishly allied himself with Septimius Severus, accepting the junior imperial rank of Caesar. This gave Severus a free hand to deal with Pescennius Niger in the East, and as soon as that threat was removed (A.D. 195) Albinus was declared a public enemy. The coinage of Albinus as Caesar under Severus was not extensive, and was all produced at the Rome mint. This type honours 'Minerva, the bringer of Peace', a sentiment in tune with Severus' intention of restoring stability to the Roman World through the elimination of his political rivals. Unfortunately for Albinus, he did not realize that Severus still numbered him among those rivals.