LAELIAN - very rare usurper JUN2464)

LAELIANUS. 269 AD. Antoninianus (3.02 gm, 19 mm). Mint city II (Cologne). IMP C LAELIANVS P F AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VICTORI-A AVG, Victory running right, holding palm and wreath. RIC V 9; AGK 1b very Fine. Provenance beachy head hoard 1.

Laelianus declared himself emperor at Moguntiacum in February/March 269.After repulsing a Germanic invasion. Although his exact position is unknown, he is believed to have been a senior officer under Postumus, either the legatus of Germania Superior or the commander of Legio XXII Primigenia. Laelianus represented a strong danger to Postumus because of the two legions he commanded (Primigenia in Moguntiacum and VIII Augusta in Argentoratum); Despite this, his rebellion lasted only about two months before he was executed, reputedly by his own soldiers, or by Postumus' troops after a siege of Laelianus' capital. The siege of Moguntiacum was also fatal for Postumus; it is said he was slain when he refused to allow his troops to plunder the city following its capture.