Clodius Albinus AD 193-195 Silver Denarius Rome

Clodius Albinus as Caesar AD 193-195 Silver Denarius

Bare head right / Minerva standing left holding olive branch and resting on shield, spear propped on left arm

Rome

RCV6144; 17mm, 3.12g

 

Clodius Albinus, along with Septimius Severus, were natives of North Africa. Born into a prominent family he joined the military where he served with distinction under Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Serving his first consulship in AD 187 he was afterwards appointed governor of Lower Germany and later of Britain. When Pescenius Niger prepared for his showdown with Septimius Severus Albinus joined forces with Severus accepting the junior rank as Caesar. Although he was later to rebel and proclaim himself Augustus Severus had by this time decided that he wanted to promote his own son Caracalla thus making Albinus’ position untenable. The issue was decided in AD 196 when Severus decisively beat Albinus in a battle fought near Lugdunum in Gaul. Albinus perished but was later beheaded and his head put on display in Rome.