Tacitus, 275-276, Antoninianus

Tacitus, antoninianus, billon, reign AD 275-276, Tripolis mint, struck AD 275-276, 4.17 g, 22 mm. Obverse: IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Reverse: CLEMENTIA TEMP, personification of Clementia standing, holding attributes; reverse legend around. Struck on a billon flan with the legends clear and the principal devices fully present. RIC V.1 Tacitus 214.

Tacitus’ coinage belongs to the final phase of the third-century imperial crises, following the assassination of Aurelian in AD 275 and preceding the short reign of Florian. Issues from Tripolis reflect the continued operation of eastern provincial mints under rapidly changing central authority, while reverse types such as CLEMENTIA TEMP advertise the regime’s emphasis on clemency and civil order during a period of political instability.