Postumus founded the breakaway Gallic Empire in 260 AD after capturing — and almost certainly executing — Saloninus, the young co-emperor left in command at Cologne. The double sestertius denomination was his invention, a practical response to the near-collapse of silver coinage under the crisis-era antoninianus, giving western provincial populations a large, recognizable bronze that the central Roman mint was no longer reliably supplying.
The Treveri mint — modern Trier — became the administrative and monetary heart of the Gallic Empire under Postumus. The "var" notation against RCV III#11049 suggests a die or legend variant not fully catalogued in the main references, worth cross-checking against Cohen#177 for corroboration.
Postumus founded the breakaway Gallic Empire in 260 AD after capturing — and almost certainly executing — Saloninus, the young co-emperor left in command at Cologne. The double sestertius denomination was his invention, a practical response to the near-collapse of silver coinage under the crisis-era antoninianus, giving western provincial populations a large, recognizable bronze that the central Roman mint was no longer reliably supplying.
The Treveri mint — modern Trier — became the administrative and monetary heart of the Gallic Empire under Postumus. The "var" notation against RCV III#11049 suggests a die or legend variant not fully catalogued in the main references, worth cross-checking against Cohen#177 for corroboration.