Description
Publius Helvius Pertinax, as the First Roman Emperor during the ‘Year of the Five Emperors’ 31 December 192 – 28 March 193 AD, Silver Denarius (3.32g, 17mm), Rome mint 193 AD. Obverse: Laureate head of Pertinax facing to the right, laurel wreath tied with ribbon which flows behind, legend surrounds, “IMP CAES P HELV PERTIN AVG”. Reverse: Laetitia stands facing to the left, draped and holding laurel wreath aloft in right hand and sceptre in left, legend surrounds, “LΛETITIΛ TEMPOR COS II”. Sear-6041; RIC-4a; RSC-20. A well centred piece with all devices struck up on flan, the portrait quite archetypical and in decent relief, a noteworthy example of a scarcer personality of the Roman Imperial series, near Very Fine to Very Fine.
The Obverse Latin legend reads “Imperātor Caesar Pūblius Helvius Pertinax Augustus”, stating the emperor’s regnal name in full. The Reverse Latin legend reads “Laetitia temporum, Cōnsulāritās secundum”, with an English translation of “A time of gaiety, with the honour of the office of Consul for his second term”.