194-195 AD., Clodius Albinus, Caesar, Rome mint, Denarius, RIC 7.

Clodius Albinus Caesar, Rome mint, 194-195 AD.,
Denarius (16-17 mm / 3,61 g),
Obv.: D - CLOD SEPT - ALBIN CAES , bare head of Clodius Albinus right.
Rev.: MINER [PACIF] COS II , Minerva helmeted, standing left, holding olive-branch and shield on ground, spear against left arm.
RIC IV, I, 45, 7 (R) ; Coh. 48 ; BMC 98 .

Decimus Clodius Septimius Albinus was born in Hadrumetum (modern Sousse in Tunisia) and came from a prominent senatorial family. He held high office under Marcus Aurelius and continued under Commodus, becoming consul in 187 and governor of Britain in 191. After the murder of Pertinax and the purchase of the Empire by Didius Julianus, Albinus, joined by his rivals Pescennius Niger and Septimius Severus, made preparations to march on Rome. Severus got there first and, in order to free himself for battle in the East, had Albinus proclaimed Caesar and made him his heir. Needless to say, after his defeat of Niger, Severus turned on Albinus and had him declared a public enemy in 195. Albinus was hailed emperor in Lugdunum in either late 195 or early 196, and spent the next year raising troops: Severus moved into Gaul with his army in 196 and in a huge battle outside Lugdunum on 19 February, defeated Albinus who then committed suicide.