Numerian

Numerian, born Marcus Aurelius Numerius Numerianus, was a Roman emperor who ruled during the tumultuous period of the Crisis of the Third Century. His reign, though brief (283–284 CE), is remembered more for the circumstances of his death than for any substantial achievements in governance. Numerian was the younger son of Emperor Carus, who rose to power following a series of rapid changes in leadership during this unstable era.

Numerian’s ascension to the throne occurred after the death of his father in 283 CE during a campaign against the Sassanid Empire. Upon Carus's death, Numerian and his elder brother Carinus were declared co-emperors, with Carinus governing the Western provinces and Numerian commanding the Eastern front. Despite his initial role as a military leader, Numerian is described by ancient sources as being more inclined toward intellectual pursuits, particularly poetry and philosophy.

During his brief reign, Numerian faced immense challenges, including maintaining control over the army and navigating the complex political landscape of the Roman Empire. His time as emperor was largely dominated by efforts to withdraw Roman forces from the East after his father’s unexpected death. The campaign was cut short by Numerian's mysterious demise in 284 CE.

According to historical accounts, Numerian fell ill with an eye condition during the return journey, confining him to a closed litter. His death went unnoticed for some time, only to be revealed by the stench emanating from his body. This bizarre turn of events led to widespread speculation about foul play. His father-in-law, Aper, was implicated in the alleged conspiracy and executed by Diocletian, who subsequently declared himself emperor.

Numerian’s untimely death and the circumstances surrounding it underscore the instability of the Roman Empire during this era, paving the way for Diocletian’s transformative reign.

Likely due to his short reign, coins of Numerian are scarce and high quality examples are rare. This coin may be one of the finest Numerian antoniniani available. It is of a fine style for the era, and perfectly struck on the obverse with a hint of weakness on the reverse. The coins is a pleasing chocolate brown with some green encrustation adding a bit of color. The slivering is lacking but this probably makes the coin appear sharper. It is unlikely that this Numerian could be upgraded.