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Pescennius Niger
Pescennius Niger. AD 193-194. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.37 g, 6h). Antioch mint. IMP CAES C PESC NIGER IVS AVG COS II, laureate head right / CERER FRVG, Ceres, draped, standing left, holding grain ears in extended right hand and scepter in left. RIC IV 7b; BMCRE 291 var. (rev. legend breaks); RSC 12. Ex. CNG Triton XXVII, lot 805, 01/10/2024.
Gaius Pescennius Niger, a Roman general and short-lived rival emperor, rose to prominence during one of the most chaotic periods in Roman history: the Year of the Five Emperors (AD 193). Born around AD 135 in Italy, Niger came from a modest equestrian background and ascended through the ranks of the Roman military and administrative hierarchy. Renowned for his leadership and popularity among the troops, he served as governor of Syria during the tumultuous end of Emperor Commodus’s reign and the brief rule of Pertinax.
Following the assassination of Pertinax in AD 193, the empire descended into civil war. The Praetorian Guard’s auction of the throne to Didius Julianus incited outrage, particularly among the provinces. Pescennius Niger, with the support of the eastern legions and many provincial elites, declared himself emperor in opposition to Julianus. His claim gained considerable momentum, as he was viewed as a strong and just leader capable of restoring stability to Rome.
However, Niger’s ambitions faced formidable opposition from Septimius Severus, another rival claimant who had secured control of the western provinces and Rome itself. The ensuing civil war culminated in a series of decisive battles. Despite early support from the eastern provinces and an initial victory, Niger’s forces were ultimately outmaneuvered and defeated by Severus’s more experienced and cohesive army.
The final blow came in AD 194 at the Battle of Issus, where Niger was decisively defeated. He fled but was soon captured and executed. Septimius Severus went on to consolidate his rule, initiating a new imperial dynasty.
Pescennius Niger’s story highlights the precarious nature of power in Rome’s imperial system. Despite his popularity and military acumen, his defeat underscores the challenges of navigating the treacherous landscape of Roman politics and civil war.
Part of the presumably hastily-produced coinage of the Year of the Five Emperors, denarii of Pescennius Niger are generally not great coins. This one stands out from the crowd, however. The portrait is extremely realistic, with sculptural detail in the facial folds, wrinkles, and muscles. On the reverse, Ceres' robe is meticulously detailed. Both sides are very well struck. One of the best examples from this short-termed emperor.