This is something cool I learnt today.
Apparently, there was this Roman emperor called Silbannacus the existence of whom was totally forgotten by history records.
The only reason we know he actually existed is thanks to two coins discovered in modern times.
The first coin was discovered in the 1930s and bears the inscription IMP SILBANNACVS AVG, identifying him as an emperor. The obverse has a portrait of him and the obverse features Victory, a common symbol of military success.
The second coin was held in a private collection and its existence became known sometime in 1996. Again, it features a portrait of Silbannacus but depicts Mars on the reverse, the Roman god of war.
Both coins were found in what was once known as Gaul and are the only proof we have that this guy existed. Actually, it was only thanks to the discovery of the second coin that any doubts of him being a real figure were cleared.
Both coins depict him as a relatively young man with small head, a slightly elongated face and a slightly aquiline nose.
(Public Domain)
Since there are no other records of him, it is believed that he reigned for only a brief time of a few weeks, maybe months.
The prevalent theory is that he rose to power sometime in the Crisis of the Third Century (235–284 CE), one of the most unstable periods in Roman history. A time of characterized by the frequent change of emperors, civil wars, barbarian invasions, and economic collapse. In short, fun times 😄
Wikipedia has a thorough entryon him.
The facts and speculations historians have come up about him from just two coins is really amazing! Worth a read imo.
And that's the quick story of Silbannacus, the almost forgotten Emperor!
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