CoinWeek Giveaway # 605 Sponsored by…
The 605th CoinWeek Coin Giveaway
Romano-Gallic Empire BI Dbl Denarius
Postumus (260-269 AD) XF NGC
The Gallic Empire was a breakaway state from the Roman Empire that existed between 260 and 274 AD during a time of major crisis in the Roman world, known as the Crisis of the Third Century. This was a period of intense instability and barbarian invasions from the north.
The Roman Empire had fallen into chaos; facing, plagues, economic problems, and civil wars. Local leaders in the western provinces felt abandoned by the central Roman government, so they took control and created their own empire for protection and stability called the Romano-Gallic Empire.
The Creation
The Roman army in Gaul threw off its allegiance to emperor Gallienus around the year 260 and a Roman commander of Batavian heritage named Marcus Cassianius Latinius Postumus ruled as emperor of what is known to modern historians as the Gallic Empire.
Postumus assumed the title and powers of Emperor in the provinces of Gaul (modern-day France and surrounding areas), Germania, Britannia, and Hispania (Spain). He ruled for the better part of ten years before he was killed by his own troops.
The Romano-Gallic Empire had its own government, army, senate, and even issued its own coins—but it closely copied almost all Roman systems and traditions
The End was Near
After Postumus was murdered in 269 AD, the Gallic Empire became unstable. Finally in 274 AD, Roman Emperor Aurelian defeated the Gallic forces at the Battle of Châlons (or Catalaunum).
Unlike other conquests, Aurelian did not frame the retaking of Gaul as a victory over a foreign enemy but rather a reunification of the Roman empire itself. In fact, many Gallic officials were allowed to keep their jobs, and the region was reintegrated peacefully.
