PAX PVBLICA


Reference : AYC #14 (1), RIC 4
Weight: 2.51 grs
Metal: Silver
Diameter: 19.50 mm
Scarcity: Very rare
Type:

Obverse

Reverse

IMP C M CLOD PVPIENVS AVG

Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Pupienus right, seen from three quarters back. 

PAX – PVBLICA

Pax seated left on throne, holding branch with the right hand and a scepter with the left hand.

Photo of a coin sold the 10/01/2017 by Classical Numismatik Group, Triton XX, lot 820, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=3594899, link to their website: https://www.cngcoins.com/.

I observe that on most of Pupienus' coins the cuirass is almost invisible and the shoulder appears smooth. Although I have listed a variant with a non-cuirassed bust for other emperors from the same period, this bust of Pupienus seems to be cuirassed. We see streaks indicating a cuirass in the lower shoulder or at least an irregular lower shoulder showing a desire to display a cuirass. Here is an example:

 On this photo the streaks are visible at the bottom of the shoulder. 

However, we cannot exclude that only draped busts exist. So far, I haven't noticed an example where the shoulder is undoubtedly smooth. 

An interesting coin, probably showing how the engraver had to shift the letter G of AVG on the obverse, in order to fill a large empty space which he noticed at the end of the engraving. Link to the coin sold on 13/10/2009 by Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 181, lot 2336: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=678367.