Dryantilla Aequitas Antoninianus Replica | Hand-Struck Silver Coin

Why collectors buy this piece

• Inspired by one of the rarest imperial usurper coinages of the Crisis of the Third Century
• Features Sulpicia Dryantilla, wife of the short-lived Pannonian usurper Regalianus
• Reproduces the documented RIC V 1 AEQVITAS AVGG antoninianus type
• Reverse depicts Aequitas with scales and double cornucopiae, symbolizing equity, balance, and prosperity
• Connected directly with the extraordinary local coinage produced at Carnuntum during the political collapse of 260 AD
• Authentic Dryantilla and Regalianus coins were unusually produced by overstriking older Roman silver coins
• Strong appeal for collectors interested in Roman usurpers, imperial women, and extreme numismatic rarities
• Faithfully reproduced using traditional hand-struck methods in sterling silver

Best suited for collectors interested in rare Roman usurpers, the Crisis of the Third Century, imperial women, and some of the most elusive personalities represented on Roman coinage.

Overview & Craftsmanship

This Dryantilla AEQVITAS antoninianus is a hand-struck sterling silver replica inspired by the extremely rare silver coinage issued at Carnuntum during the usurpation of Regalianus in 260 AD.

The obverse presents Sulpicia Dryantilla diademed and draped to right, with her bust set on a crescent beneath the legend SVLP DRYANTILLA AVG. The reverse depicts Aequitas standing left, holding scales in her extended right hand and double cornucopiae in her left, surrounded by the legend AEQVITAS AVGG.

The original coinage of Regalianus and Dryantilla is particularly unusual because it was produced locally at Carnuntum by striking newly engraved designs over older Roman silver coins. Traces of the original host coins remain visible on many surviving ancient examples.

This reproduction is individually struck by hand rather than cast, preserving an irregular flan, varied relief, and surface character. Each newly struck piece may therefore differ slightly in centering, edge shape, tone, and detail.

Historical & Numismatic Background

• The year 260 AD was one of the most chaotic moments of the Crisis of the Third Century. Emperor Valerian I was captured by the Sasanian king Shapur I, creating an extraordinary political vacuum across the Roman Empire.
• Usurpations followed in several regions. In the Danubian provinces, Regalianus — probably a senior military commander — was acclaimed emperor by troops based around Carnuntum in Pannonia.
• Regalianus attempted to establish the outward forms of imperial government, including the immediate production of coinage in his own name and in that of his wife, Sulpicia Dryantilla.
• Dryantilla therefore appears on Roman-style imperial coinage despite the extraordinary brevity and limited geographical reach of her husband’s regime.
• Carnuntum did not possess a normal imperial mint equipped for large-scale coin production. Instead, older Roman silver coins already in circulation were used as flans. Special dies bearing the portraits and legends of Regalianus and Dryantilla were struck directly over them.
• As a result, genuine coins frequently preserve fragments of earlier portraits, legends, and reverse designs beneath the new strike. Known undertypes include denarii issued decades earlier during the Severan period.
• This emergency production method, combined with the extremely short duration of the revolt, explains the extraordinary rarity of the surviving coinage.
• The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna has described the Regalianus and Dryantilla issues as among the rarest coins connected with Roman Austria. Only a very small surviving population is known, making Dryantilla one of the most elusive women represented on Roman imperial-style coinage.
• The reverse personification Aequitas represented equity, fairness, and monetary balance. Her scales are the clearest expression of this concept, while the cornucopiae signify prosperity and abundance.
• The plural AVGG — “of the Augusti” — appears somewhat inconsistently on the hastily produced coinage of the regime. Contemporary dies often borrowed legends and imagery from coins already circulating in the region, reflecting the improvised circumstances under which the series was created.
• For collectors, Dryantilla’s antoniniani combine several exceptional features at once: an almost unknown historical personality, a failed regional usurpation, emergency minting, visible overstriking on older coins, and extreme rarity.

Numismatic References:

This replica is inspired by ancient issues documented in standard numismatic references, including:

– RIC V.2 1

– Göbl, Regalianus und Dryantilla, D1

Technical Details & Variations

Type: Dryantilla AEQVITAS antoninianus replica

Denomination represented: AR Antoninianus

Authority: Sulpicia Dryantilla / Regalianus

Mint: Carnuntum, Pannonia

Era represented: 260 AD

Material: Sterling silver (AR)

Weight: approx. 4-5 g

Dimensions: approx. 20-21 mm

Manufacturing method: Hand-struck (hammered)

Obverse: Diademed and draped bust of Dryantilla right, set on crescent
Legend:
SVLP DRYANTILLA AVG

Reverse: Aequitas standing left, holding scales in right hand and double cornucopiae in left
Legend:
AEQVITAS AVGG

Due to the traditional hand-striking process, variations in weight, diameter, strike, centering, tone, and surface are expected.

Intended Use

Suitable for:

– collectors of ancient and historical coinage

– academic or educational reference

– museum or exhibition display

– historically accurate reenactment

– high-quality numismatic gifts

Replica Disclaimer

This item is a hand-struck replica inspired by an authentic ancient Dryantilla antoninianus type. It is not an original ancient coin.

Explore related Roman usurper and antoninianus pages:

• See the Laelianus antoninianus replica
• See the Postumus usurper coin replica
• Browse Roman antoninianus replicas