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Antoninianus - Tetricus I FIDES MILITVM
| Issuer | Gallic Empire |
|---|---|
| Year | 271 |
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| Composition | Billon |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | Standing female figure of Fides, depicted facing left or frontally, holding a military standard in each hand, symbolizing loyalty to the armed forces. The reverse type is a common propagandistic motif used extensively by Tetricus I to assert military allegiance during the turbulent period of the Gallic Empire. The legend FIDES MILITVM encircles the field, proclaiming the faith of the soldiers. The execution is typical of the later Gallic Empire coinage, with a somewhat schematic rendering of the personification. The flan shows slight irregularity consistent with hammered provincial production. |
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| Additional information |
Tetricus I came to power not through military victory but through the influence of Victoria — the de facto power broker of the Gallic Empire following Victorinus's assassination in 271. His reign was precarious from the start, plagued by usurpation attempts and a soldiery of questionable loyalty. The FIDES MILITVM type, invoking the faithfulness of the troops, was not ceremonial posturing — it was issued under genuine anxiety about whether the legions would hold.
The billon content in Tetrican issues had degraded so severely from earlier antoniniani that many contemporary forgeries are nearly indistinguishable from official mint output at Cologne or Trier.