VOTIS DECENNALIBVS

Reference : AYC #33, RIC 18

Weight: 21.10 grs

Metal: Bronze

Diameter: ?

Scarcity: Very rare

Type:

Obverse

Reverse

IMP CAES M CLOD PVPIENVS AVG

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

/ VOTIS _ DECENNA _ LIBVS _ SC

Wreath within words VOTIS DECENNALIBVS on the middle in three lines. Below: SC.

Photo of a coin sold the 26/05/2014 by Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 78, lot 1078, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1996012, link to the sale: https://www.arsclassicacoins.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.