Reece Period attributed: Period 14
Member of the Third Century Emperors dynasty.
Coins for this issuer were issued from 275 until 276.
Marcus Claudius Tacitus was born ca. 200 in the Danube provinces. He became emperor when he was about 75 years old. The circumstances of his accession are unclear; Aurelian left no apparent heir, and after some period of interregnum the Senate or the armies put forth Tacitus as the next candidate.
After becoming emperor, Tacitus set out to take the forces Aurelian had amassed into Persia. He won victories in Asia Minor and was given the name ‘Gothicus Maximus,’ but was murdered on his way back to Rome in Cappadocia. He had only reigned six months, but was a favourite of the Senate.
We have recorded 130 examples.
View all coins recorded by the scheme attributed to Tacitus.
This video has been embedded from Adrian Murdoch's series of podcasts on the Emperors of Rome. Many thanks to him for allowing us to use these podcasts.