Quintillus
Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Claudius Quintillus Augustus
Marcus Aurelius Claudius Quintillus was the brother of Claudius Gothicus. When Claudius died of plague, the army at Sirmium quickly acclaimed Quintillus, but the main Danubian armies had already chosen Aurelian. Ancient sources give wildly varying reign lengths, from seventeen days to a few months; the numismatic evidence suggests a brief but not negligible reign. He died, possibly by suicide or murdered, when it became clear Aurelian's claim was uncontestable.
Quintillus is one of the more obscure emperors of the third century but his coins are regularly encountered in specialist sales. Collectors of the Claudian period naturally seek his issues to complete the sequence between Claudius Gothicus and Aurelian.
Key Events
Coinage
The coinage of Quintillus is scarce but not as extreme a rarity as some other short-reign emperors, suggesting his reign may have been longer than the minimum estimates. Struck at Rome and possibly at Milan and Siscia, his portrait closely resembles that of his brother Claudius. The reverses emphasise FIDES EXERCITI and imperial virtues.
Denominations
Notable Types
- FIDES EXERCIT (Faith of the Army) types
- APOLLINI CONS types
- FORTVNA REDVX types
Common Reverses
Active Mints
Related Resources
Further Reading
- Roman Imperial Coinage, Volume V, Part I,
- Roman Coins and Their Values, Volume III,