Roman Empire

Pertinax, Emperor AD 193

RIC 11a; Woodward 11 (same obv. die); BMC 11; Calicó 2389a, Superb Mint State

Rome. IMP CAES P HELV PERTIN AVG, laureate head of Pertinax right. Reverse: PROVID DEOR COS II, Providentia standing facing, head left, extending arms toward star in upper left field.

Ex NAC 78 (26 May 2014), 1016

On January 1, AD 193, the murderers of Commodus proclaimed the urban prefect, P. Helvius Pertinax, as his successor. He almost immediately offended the Praetorian Guard by failing to provide the expected donative and attempting to impose greater discipline. He survived an attempt on his life in early March, but on March 28, some 300 of the Praetorian Guard rushed the gates of the imperial palace demanding back pay. When Pertinax attempted to reason with the enraged soldiers he was struck down and killed. The Year of the Five Emperors had begun.