Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature Sale 3056 3 Aug 2017
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Trajan Decius (AD 249-251). Orichalcum double-sestertius (38mm, 37.43 gm, 12h). Choice AU. Rome, AD 250. IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust of Decius right, viewed from front, slight drapery on far shoulder / FELICITAS SAECVLI S - C, Felicitas standing facing, head left, holding long caduceus in right hand and cornucopia cradled in left arm. RIC 115a. Cohen 39. Hunter 46. RCV 9395. Deeply struck on a massive flan, with a lovely original jade-green patina, some earthen encrustation still adhering to edges.
Trajan Decius came to the throne in AD 251 with a ready-made agenda for the restoration of Rome's fading glory. He cracked down harshly on those he believed were undermining the ancient religion and traditions of Rome. Christianity was particularly singled out, and thousands of Christians were forced to either make sacrifice to Rome's gods or face torture and execution. Renewed barbarian invasions late in AD 250 took his attention away from domestic affairs. Seeking a decisive battle, Decius pursued the fleeing Goths into the marshes of Abrittus and straight into an ambush. Decius, his son Herennius and about half of their army perished in the debacle, the first time a Roman emperor had fallen to a foreign enemy. The catastrophe accelerated the Roman Empire's slide into anarchy.
Decius' reform agenda extended into the realm of finance and coinage, including the introduction of an entirely new denomination, the double-sestertius. This large, impressive piece depicted the emperor wearing a radiate crown instead of the usual laurel wreath. Probably intended to combat runaway inflation and restore faith in the bronze coinage, the coin proved a failure, as it was seldom adopted by succeeding rulers (except for the Gallic rebel Postumus) and Roman bronze coinage soon ceased altogether. The double-sestertius can been seen as the swan song of Rome's traditional bronze coinage, harkening back to the huge Aes Grave of the Republic.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 6000-8000 USD
Trajan Decius (AD 249-251). Orichalcum double-sestertius (38mm, 37.43 gm, 12h). Choice AU. Rome, AD 250. IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust of Decius right, viewed from front, slight drapery on far shoulder / FELICITAS SAECVLI S - C, Felicitas standing facing, head left, holding long caduceus in right hand and cornucopia cradled in left arm. RIC 115a. Cohen 39. Hunter 46. RCV 9395. Deeply struck on a massive flan, with a lovely original jade-green patina, some earthen encrustation still adhering to edges.
Trajan Decius came to the throne in AD 251 with a ready-made agenda for the restoration of Rome's fading glory. He cracked down harshly on those he believed were undermining the ancient religion and traditions of Rome. Christianity was particularly singled out, and thousands of Christians were forced to either make sacrifice to Rome's gods or face torture and execution. Renewed barbarian invasions late in AD 250 took his attention away from domestic affairs. Seeking a decisive battle, Decius pursued the fleeing Goths into the marshes of Abrittus and straight into an ambush. Decius, his son Herennius and about half of their army perished in the debacle, the first time a Roman emperor had fallen to a foreign enemy. The catastrophe accelerated the Roman Empire's slide into anarchy.
Decius' reform agenda extended into the realm of finance and coinage, including the introduction of an entirely new denomination, the double-sestertius. This large, impressive piece depicted the emperor wearing a radiate crown instead of the usual laurel wreath. Probably intended to combat runaway inflation and restore faith in the bronze coinage, the coin proved a failure, as it was seldom adopted by succeeding rulers (except for the Gallic rebel Postumus) and Roman bronze coinage soon ceased altogether. The double-sestertius can been seen as the swan song of Rome's traditional bronze coinage, harkening back to the huge Aes Grave of the Republic.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 6000-8000 USD