The Antoninianus of Silbannacus discovered in the 1930s. The inscription reads imp mar silbannacvs avg.
Roman emperor or usurper
Reign
Uncertain, likely briefly at some point between 248 and 253
Predecessor
Uncertain, possibly Philip the Arab or Aemilian
Successor
Uncertain, possibly Philip the Arab or Valerian
Names
Mar. Silbannacus
Regnal name
Imperator Mar. Silbannacus Augustus
Silbannacus was an obscure Roman emperor or usurper during the Crisis of the Third Century. Silbannacus is not mentioned in any contemporary documents and his existence was forgotten until the 20th century, when two coins bearing his name were discovered, the first in the 1930s and the second in the 1980s. His unusual name suggests that he might have been of Gallic descent.
As the only known evidence for his existence is the two coins, the exact time and extent of Silbannacus's rule is not known. Based on the design of the coin and its silver content, Silbannacus was most likely concurrent with the reigns of Philip the Arab (r. 244–249), Decius (r. 249–251), Trebonianus Gallus (r. 251–253), Aemilian (r. 253), or Valerian (r. 253–260). The two most prevalent ideas are the older hypothesis, that Silbannacus was a usurper in Gaul during the reign of Philip the Arab, at some point between 248 and 250, and the newer hypothesis, based on the design of the second coin, that Silbannacus was a briefly reigning legitimate emperor, holding Rome between the death of Aemilian and the arrival of Valerian.
Silbannacus was an obscure Roman emperor or usurper during the Crisis of the Third Century. Silbannacus is not mentioned in any contemporary documents...
Trebonianus Gallus' death and his own murder. It is possible that the usurper Silbannacus was an officer left by Aemilian in Rome before moving against Valerian...
and Joy. Estiot, Sylviane (1996). "L'empereur Silbannacus, un second antoninien" [Emperor Silbannacus, a second Antoninianus]. Revue numismatique (in...
excessive taxation of the Eastern provinces. Two other usurpers, Marcus Silbannacus and Sponsianus, are reported to have started rebellions without much...
Usurpation of Pacatianus (248) Usurpation of Jotapianus (249) Usurpation of Silbannacus (249 or 253) Decius' Rebellion (249) Verona and death of Philip & Philip...
Global Information