ROMAN. Pertinax. A.D. 193. Silver Denarius (3.04g). Rome mint. 2nd emission. Laureate head right / Laetitia standing left, holding wreath and sceptre. RIC IV 4a; Lempereur Type 8, 327 (D113/R187); RSC 20. Bright, granular surfaces, with a few hairline flan cracks. gVF for the type. A very attractive example with pleasing old cabinet toning. For comparison, see the most recently sold specimen of this type, CNG Auction 130, lot 497, hammered USD 2,000. Chosen by the Senate to succeed the dissolute Commodus, the elderly Pertinax immediately undertook reforms aimed at restoring confidence in the Empire's administration and finances. Notably, he sought to reverse the debasement of the silver coinage, and his denarii show a clear increase in both weight and fineness compared to the final issues of Commodus. The portraiture is correspondingly refined, presenting the emperor as a dignified, heavily bearded elder statesman. His reform programme was short-lived, however, as Pertinax was murdered by the Praetorian Guard after a reign of less than three months, after which the debasement of Roman coinage quickly resumed. (P)

Estimate: AUD 2500