Herennius Etruscus and Hostilian as Caesars. AE 25; Herennius Etruscus and Hostilian as Caesars; 250-251 AD, Bostra, Arabia Petraea, AE 25, 13.71g. RPC-2212 (22 spec.), pl. 149 (same obv. die). Obv: IMPP N D?CIVS ?T C VAL?NS CVINTVS [CAIS]AR?S Vis-á-vis busts of Herennius Etruscus and Hostilian, on the l. Etruscus laureate, draped, cuirassed r., on the r. Herennius radiate, draped, cuirassed l., seen from front. Rx: ACTIA DVSARIA COL [M?]TR BOSTR?NORVM On a raised platform approached by steps, baetyl of the god Dusares surmounted by seven flat cake-like objects, between two smaller baetyls each surmounted by one similar object; l. and r. of the platform curving laurel branches that meet at the top like a wreath. Acquired from Tom Cederlind, 9 April 1999; ex Cederlind 115, lot 1315. Judging from the specimens of RPC-2212, 2213, and 2214 that are illustrated by RPC online, this unusual obverse type combining portraits of Herennius Etruscus and Hostilian seems to occur on only one obverse die at Bostra. RPC, following BMC p. 26, reads IMP with just one P at the beginning of the obverse legend of this die, so confining that title Imperator to Etruscus only. On our specimen, however, and on Sofaer pl. 131, 58-59, the correct reading seems to be IMPP with two P's, meaning that Etruscus and Hostilian together are called Imperatores...Caesares.
($750)