bavarikon4UDescription
Obverse: POSTV - MVS AVG. Three-quarter bust of Postumus with aureole.
Reverse: SALVS POSTVMI AVG. Salus stands with the snake on her arm towards the right, next to her Aesculapius stands with the caduceus to the left.
For over 300 years, the Aureus was the standard gold coin of the Roman Empire, whereby the weight was decreased ever more during this period. A gold coin of this size had a very high power of acquisition. The monthly pay of a Roman legionary of the mid first century AD corresponded more or less to an Aureus.
Normally the emperor is depicted in profile. This rule was disregarded under Postumus (d. AD 269) for some exemplars in favour of an artistically valuable three-quarter portrait crowned by an aureole. This form of depiction shows the high artistry of die cutters in Cologne under Postumus, since the quality of the cut almost reaches the level of Greek models. Postumus, governor of one of the Germanic provinces, rose against the Emperor Gallienus who was committed in the East. Most provinces in the West recognised him as emperor. Postumus became, therefore, the founder of the so-called Gallic Empire (Imperium Galliarum) that would exist up to AD 274.