Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 135 21 Nov 2022
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The Roman Empire. Trebonianus Gallus, 251 – 253.
Aureus 253, AV 4.01 g. IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. P M T – R P IIII COS II The Emperor standing l., holding laurel branch and short sceptre. C 92 var. (only laureate). RIC 1. Calicó 3342 (these dies).
Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue. A portrait of fine style,
light reddish tone, virtually as struck and almost Fdc
Ex NAC sale 78, 2014, 1095.
Trebonianus Gallus reigned near the end of a terrible trend that nearly damaged the empire beyond repair. After the murder of Gordian III in 244 a string of four 'military emperors' ruled in quick succession, each being killed by the enemy or by Romans, and then were succeeded by a general who held an important field command. Gallus was the third of these unfortunates, and he came to the throne under what were simultaneously the best and worst circumstances of the period: the best because his predecessor had died in battle (i.e. Gallus did not murder or defeat him), and the worst because an already hopeless situation in the Balkans was worsened with the loss of an army and the emperors who led it. In addition to this, the Goths invaded the Balkans yet again, the Sasanian king Shapur I captured Armenia, and the plague was becoming more serious. All of the empire must have been shocked when Gallus' co-emperor Hostilian succumbed to the disease. Though this was a new low-point for the empire, matters became worse in the east as Shapur sacked Antioch in 252/3, and the Goths and other Germans turned their attention from the Balkans (apparently because it had been picked clean) and invaded Asia Minor. They pillaged as far south as Ephesus before returning to their homelands. A single bright spot on the horizon was the vigorous activity of the commander Aemilian, who had taken the place of Gallus as governor of Lower Moesia. Aemilian was especially forceful: he executed Goths who had remained in Roman lands after their recent raids, and then pushed beyond the Danube to deliver even more crushing defeats. A now painfully familiar cycle repeated itself when Aemilian was hailed emperor by his troops and marched against Gallus, whom he caused to be murdered outside of Rome in the spring or summer of 253. Aemilian's glory was short-lived because reinforcements from the Rhine that Gallus had ordered finally arrived in Italy under the command of the future emperor Valerian. In what is described by ancient sources as an exceptionally bloody battle, Aemilian perished after a reign of only three months. The vacant throne was filled by Valerian, who compelled his son Gallienus to become his co-emperor. While history shows that even they could not turn back the tide of Rome's misfortunes, they at least brought a temporary respite to a cycle that many historians rightly believe did more damage to the empire than any of its enemies.
Graded Ch AU Strike 5/5 Surface 4/5, NGC certification number 6556714-032
Aureus 253, AV 4.01 g. IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. P M T – R P IIII COS II The Emperor standing l., holding laurel branch and short sceptre. C 92 var. (only laureate). RIC 1. Calicó 3342 (these dies).
Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue. A portrait of fine style,
light reddish tone, virtually as struck and almost Fdc
Ex NAC sale 78, 2014, 1095.
Trebonianus Gallus reigned near the end of a terrible trend that nearly damaged the empire beyond repair. After the murder of Gordian III in 244 a string of four 'military emperors' ruled in quick succession, each being killed by the enemy or by Romans, and then were succeeded by a general who held an important field command. Gallus was the third of these unfortunates, and he came to the throne under what were simultaneously the best and worst circumstances of the period: the best because his predecessor had died in battle (i.e. Gallus did not murder or defeat him), and the worst because an already hopeless situation in the Balkans was worsened with the loss of an army and the emperors who led it. In addition to this, the Goths invaded the Balkans yet again, the Sasanian king Shapur I captured Armenia, and the plague was becoming more serious. All of the empire must have been shocked when Gallus' co-emperor Hostilian succumbed to the disease. Though this was a new low-point for the empire, matters became worse in the east as Shapur sacked Antioch in 252/3, and the Goths and other Germans turned their attention from the Balkans (apparently because it had been picked clean) and invaded Asia Minor. They pillaged as far south as Ephesus before returning to their homelands. A single bright spot on the horizon was the vigorous activity of the commander Aemilian, who had taken the place of Gallus as governor of Lower Moesia. Aemilian was especially forceful: he executed Goths who had remained in Roman lands after their recent raids, and then pushed beyond the Danube to deliver even more crushing defeats. A now painfully familiar cycle repeated itself when Aemilian was hailed emperor by his troops and marched against Gallus, whom he caused to be murdered outside of Rome in the spring or summer of 253. Aemilian's glory was short-lived because reinforcements from the Rhine that Gallus had ordered finally arrived in Italy under the command of the future emperor Valerian. In what is described by ancient sources as an exceptionally bloody battle, Aemilian perished after a reign of only three months. The vacant throne was filled by Valerian, who compelled his son Gallienus to become his co-emperor. While history shows that even they could not turn back the tide of Rome's misfortunes, they at least brought a temporary respite to a cycle that many historians rightly believe did more damage to the empire than any of its enemies.
Graded Ch AU Strike 5/5 Surface 4/5, NGC certification number 6556714-032