Ancient Rome - AD 248-249 Pacatian AR Double-Denarius NGC AU - Very Rare!

Antoninianus (or Double-Denarius), struck at Viminacium (modern day Serbia) between 248-249 AD, AR 3.50 g. The obverse features IMP TI CL MAR PACATIANVS P F AVG around a radiated, draped and cuirassed bust facing right. The reverse features FIDES [MILITVM] with Fides standing facing left, holding two standards in each hand. C 4. RIC 3. The year 248 marked what Romans believed was the thousandth anniversary of their capital city – a milestone by any standard. While the games went on in Rome the empire was sinking ever deeper into danger from its enemies on the borders, and these concerns were taking their toll in the provinces. One particularly vulnerable region was the Balkans, which existed under the ever-present threat of barbarian invasion across the Danube. Finally, in the spring or early summer of 248 the legions on the Danube supported their commander Pacatian in a rebellion against the reigning emperor Philip I 'the Arab, who sent his prefect Decius to put down the uprising. The revolt lasted a few months at the most, and sometime between the spring of 248 and early 249 Pacatian was murdered by his own men. Though it had ended, Pacatians revolt indirectly caused the downfall of Philip, for the soldiers brought their complaints forth to Decius, who in the meantime had won his mens respect by cleaning the region of Goths, Germans and Dacian Carpi who had invaded Roman territory during the rebellion. In about June, 249 the same soldiers who had sponsored Pacatian hailed Decius their emperor, and encouraged him to march on Rome. Philip brought a large army against him, but was defeated in September or October, 249, thus ending his bashful and ineffective reign of five years. The only coinage known for Pacatian is double-denarii that were over-struck upon earlier Roman silver coins. Find spots and stylistic considerations have led scholars to attribute them to a mint in Moesia, perhaps Viminacium, a legionary stronghold near the Danube in Moesia Superior. Ever since a mint was opened there by Gordian III, Viminacium had been a prolific issuer of provincial coins, yet there are none for Pacatian, and the issues at this mint for Trajan Decius in 248 are either dubious or non-existent. Either Pacatians rebellion and the resulting barbarian invasions prevented the mint from operating at that time or it did not issue provincial coins because it was occupied with striking the double-denarii Pacatian used to pay his legions. The present example is extremely rare and in exceptional condition for the issue. It is lightly toned and weakly struck on reverse, as is typical for the issue when encountered.