Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 127 17 Nov 2021
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Volusian, 251 – 253
Binio 251-253, AV 5.40 g. IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. P M TR P IIII COS II Emperor standing l., holding sceptre and sacrificing out of patera over tripod. C 93 var. (only radiate). RIC 138. Calicò 3368.
Extremely rare. An interesting portrait struck on a very broad flan, several
minor marks, otherwise extremely fine
Associated with the troubled reign of Trebonianus Gallus was his son Volusian, who probably was about 20 years old when he was hailed Caesar, and soon after Augustus, in the tragic year 251. When his father replaced as emperor the slain Trajan Decius and his eldest son Herennius Etruscus in June or July of 251, two complications remained in Rome: Decius’ widow and youngest son. Since Decius had not been branded a rebel or overthrown, Gallus treated his surviving relatives honourably. The widow Herennia Etruscilla seems to have retained the title Augusta (as Volusian’s mother Afinia Gemina Baebiana was never hailed Augusta), and her young son Hostilian was raised in rank from Caesar to co- Augustus with Gallus. This may have been difficult for Volusian to accept, for he was the new emperor’s son and if coin portraits are any judge, he was considerably older than Hostilian. In any event, if Volusian had been envious of the title Augustus, he did not have long to wait, for within months Hostilian died of the plague. Volusian was immediately hailed Augustus in the fallen boy’s place. But the titles jointly held by Volusian and Gallus were of little value, for they remained in Rome while the Roman empire collapsed around them. Plague was rampant, and the Goths and Sasanians ravaged Asia Minor and Syria. The only source of inspiration was Aemilian, governor of Lower Moesia, who was roundly defeating the Goths in the Balkans. Good news for Rome, however, spelled bad news for Gallus and Volusian, for recent history was about to repeat itself. Riding the tide of his success, Aemilian gave to his soldiers a large sum of money intended to subsidize a peace agreement with the Goths, and they hailed him emperor and urged him to march on Rome. Panic- stricken, Gallus and Volusian instructed the noble Valerian, who was raising recruits on the Rhine, to quickly return to Italy with his army. Valerian did so, but arrived too late to save Gallus and Volusian, both of whom were murdered outside Rome by their own soldiers before an engagement with Aemilian even occurred. A pitched battle soon did occur between Aemilian’s seasoned Balkan soldiers and Valerian’s fresh recruits from the Rhine. In a bloody battle, Aemilian died and Valerian was hailed emperor, allowing him to establish an ill-fated dynasty comprised of himself, his son Gallienus and his two grandsons Valerian II and Saloninus.
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Binio 251-253, AV 5.40 g. IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. P M TR P IIII COS II Emperor standing l., holding sceptre and sacrificing out of patera over tripod. C 93 var. (only radiate). RIC 138. Calicò 3368.
Extremely rare. An interesting portrait struck on a very broad flan, several
minor marks, otherwise extremely fine
Associated with the troubled reign of Trebonianus Gallus was his son Volusian, who probably was about 20 years old when he was hailed Caesar, and soon after Augustus, in the tragic year 251. When his father replaced as emperor the slain Trajan Decius and his eldest son Herennius Etruscus in June or July of 251, two complications remained in Rome: Decius’ widow and youngest son. Since Decius had not been branded a rebel or overthrown, Gallus treated his surviving relatives honourably. The widow Herennia Etruscilla seems to have retained the title Augusta (as Volusian’s mother Afinia Gemina Baebiana was never hailed Augusta), and her young son Hostilian was raised in rank from Caesar to co- Augustus with Gallus. This may have been difficult for Volusian to accept, for he was the new emperor’s son and if coin portraits are any judge, he was considerably older than Hostilian. In any event, if Volusian had been envious of the title Augustus, he did not have long to wait, for within months Hostilian died of the plague. Volusian was immediately hailed Augustus in the fallen boy’s place. But the titles jointly held by Volusian and Gallus were of little value, for they remained in Rome while the Roman empire collapsed around them. Plague was rampant, and the Goths and Sasanians ravaged Asia Minor and Syria. The only source of inspiration was Aemilian, governor of Lower Moesia, who was roundly defeating the Goths in the Balkans. Good news for Rome, however, spelled bad news for Gallus and Volusian, for recent history was about to repeat itself. Riding the tide of his success, Aemilian gave to his soldiers a large sum of money intended to subsidize a peace agreement with the Goths, and they hailed him emperor and urged him to march on Rome. Panic- stricken, Gallus and Volusian instructed the noble Valerian, who was raising recruits on the Rhine, to quickly return to Italy with his army. Valerian did so, but arrived too late to save Gallus and Volusian, both of whom were murdered outside Rome by their own soldiers before an engagement with Aemilian even occurred. A pitched battle soon did occur between Aemilian’s seasoned Balkan soldiers and Valerian’s fresh recruits from the Rhine. In a bloody battle, Aemilian died and Valerian was hailed emperor, allowing him to establish an ill-fated dynasty comprised of himself, his son Gallienus and his two grandsons Valerian II and Saloninus.
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