Gallic Empire. Marius A.D. 269, Billon Antoninianus, Cologne.

In the turbulent political landscape of the 3rd Century AD, the Roman world was fractured by constant warfare, economic collapse, and rapid turnovers in leadership. It was an era where traditional paths to power were completely upended, allowing a common blacksmith to ascend to the imperial throne. Welcome to the brief, highly debated, and utterly fascinating life of Marcus Aurelius Marius, a man who traded his anvil for the purple robes of a Roman emperor. next...