Numerian AD 283-284 Bronze Antoninianus Rome

Numerian as Caesar AD 283-284 Bronze Antoninianus Rome

Radiate bust right / Numerian standing left in military attire holding globe and resting on sceptre

Rome

RCV12217; 3.97g, 21mm

Numerian was the younger son of Carus. Elevated first to Caesar and then to Augustus after Carus became emperor he assisted his father in his campaigns against the Sarmatians and Quadi in Pannonia and again against the Sasanids in Persia. Following the unexpected death of Carus Numerian negotiated a peace with the defeated Persians. He then began a slow return to meet his brother Carinus. On the journey he fell ill and was confined to a closed litter where he was discovered dead as the army approached Nicomedia. His father-in-law Arrius Aper was accused of the murder and was executed.
The leader of the emperor’s bodyguard Diocles was then proclaimed emperor by his troops becoming the emperor Diocletian.