Page 21 - January1960

January, 1960 NATIONAL BUTTON BUTJ.NTJN 19

his true name was Marcus Aurelius Antoninus and in 201, before he became em-
peror, thaL is, he secured the title Pius from the senate. The name we know him
by was a nickname (like Caligula's) and given for a similar reason. The dis-
tinclive garment that he aiways wore and required others of his court to wear
was the caracalla, a long tunic imported from Gaul.
MAXIMINUS I, emperor 235-238. Maximinus I was another tyrant distin-
guished for nothing except his inhuman cruelty. Like Caracalla, he was slain by
his soldiers.
No. 29 "Imp/Maximinw/Pivs/Avg" Backmark "Lidz." Both the backmark of
the present-day New York flrm and the construction place this as a recent button.
It is cast of soft metal with a wedge shank.
POSTUMUS, ruled 259-26?. Postumus, who was in command of the army in
Gaul, declared himself emperor tLrere even while another, Valerian, ruled in Rome.
He ruled in Gaul and Britain and died in battle, possibly at the hands of his own
men.
No.30 "Imp/C/Postvmvs/P/I/Avg" "C" is for Cassianus, one of his names.
"P" is probably for Pius and "I" for Imperator. Three sizes are reported for this
button.
CLAUDIUS II GOTHICUS, emperor 268-270. Born of an obscure family,
Claudius came io power entirely by the military route. His splendid victories over
the northern barbarians gave him the name Gothicus. He died dwing the plague
of. 270.
No. 31 "Imp/Clavdivs/Avg" Like many others of this period, he pictures him-
self in the headdress of a god.

DIOCLETIAN, born 245, died 313. Diocletian rvas the only Rom.an emperor
wtro chose to spend his Iast years in happy rural reiirement arMay from the cares
of state. coming to power in 284 he governed, but always as a joint ruler with one
or more other men, until 305 when he abdicated. Altho he is notorious for his
persecution of the Christians, he was in oLher respects a wise ruler.
No. 32 "Imp/Diocletianvs/P/Avg" on one-piece stamped metal.
No. 33 The same design as the above, in white metal with Daste rim.