Antoninian of Tetricus I (AD 271–274), struck at the mint of Colonia Agrippinensis, belongs to the coinage of the final phase of the Gallic Empire, issued at a time when maintaining the loyalty of the army was essential for political stability.
The obverse presents a radiate and cuirassed bust facing right, with a partially preserved legend …TRICVS AVG, representing an abbreviated form of the emperor’s full titulature.
The reverse depicts Fides standing left, holding two military standards, with the legend FIDES MILITVM. Fides, as the personification of loyalty and trust, in this context directly refers to the allegiance of the army to the emperor.
The legend FIDES MILITVM (“the loyalty of the soldiers”) belongs to one of the most important propagandistic formulas of the 3rd-century crisis, when military support was decisive for retaining power. This motif is well attested across the coinage of many emperors of the period and, in the case of Tetricus I, carries particular significance given the unstable political situation and the growing threat from Aurelian.
Roman Imperial
Tetricus I (271–274), Antoninianus 271-274, Cologne mint
Obverse: radiate and draped bust right
...TRICVS AVG
Reverse: Fides standing left, holding two standards
FIDES MILITVM
Diameter 17 mm, weight 2.15 g
