Pertinax (A.D. 193)
AR Denarius

A.D. 193, Rome, 17.0 mm, 3.36g, 0°, RIC IV.I 4a. Very rare.
Obv: IMP CAES P HELV-PERTIN AVG. Laureate head right.
Rev: LAETITIA TEM-P-OR COS I. Laetitia standing facing, head left, wreath downward in right hand, grounded scepter in left.
--------------------------------------------------
Publius Helvius Pertinax Augustus was Roman Emperor for three months in 193. A high ranking military and Senatorial figure, Pertinax is thought to have been implicated in the conspiracy that led to the assassination of Commodus on December 31, 192. When Commodus' behavior became increasingly erratic throughout the early 190’s, a plot was carried out by the Praetorian prefect Quintus Aemilius Laetus, Commodus' mistress Marcia, and his chamberlain Eclectus. In the aftermath of the assassination, Pertinax, who was serving as urban prefect at this time, was hurried to the Praetorian Camp and proclaimed emperor the following morning.

His reign of 86 days was an uneasy one. Pertinax attempted to emulate the restrained practices of Marcus Aurelius but he faced antagonism from many quarters. Ancient writers detail how the Praetorian Guard expected a generous donative on his ascension, and when it was not forthcoming, agitated until he produced the money, selling off Commodus' property, including the concubines and youths Commodus kept for his sexual pleasures.

On 28 March 193, Pertinax was at his palace when a contingent of some two to three hundred soldiers of the Praetorian Guard rushed the gates. Ancient sources suggest that they had received only half their promised pay. Pertinax sent Laetus to meet them, but he chose to side with the insurgents instead and deserted the emperor. Although advised to flee, he then attempted to reason with them, and was almost successful before being struck down by one of the soldiers. Pertinax must have been aware of the danger he faced by assuming the purple, for he refused to use imperial titles for either his wife or son, which offered them some protection from the aftermath of his own assassination. The praetorian guards auctioned off the imperial position, which was won by Senator Didius Julianus who became the new Emperor.