Watch List notes:

JDL Collection Part II: Roman Coins
THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

TREBONIANUS GALLUS, mid June 251–August( ?) 253.

Sestertius, Rome, Æ 22.34 g.
Obv. IMP CAES C VIBIVS TREBONIANVS GALLVS AVG His
laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right; border of dots. Rev. LIBERTAS AVGG / S – C Libertas standing facing, head left, holding pileus in right hand and leaning left hand on long sceptre; border of dots.
Literature
Cohen - cf. 64 (VIB instead of VIBIVS) RIC IV/3, 172, 114
Banti 21a (same dies)
M.-M. Bendenoun, Coins of the Ancient World, A portrait of the JDL Collection, Tradart, Genève, 2009, 84 (this coin)
Condition
In exceptional condition for the issue, possibly the finest ses- tertius of Trebonianus Gallus known. A superb portrait struck on a medallic flan and a lovely green patina. Extremely fine.

Provenance
Sotheby's, Hunt sale II, New York 1990, lot 808.
P. & P. Santamaria, Signorelli sale part III, Roma 1953, lot 1168.
Former Hunt and Signorelli collections.
Ever since the murder of Commodus late in A.D. 192 the office of emperor had been the object of open competition among senior military commanders and the occasional politician. By the time Trebonianus Gallus was hailed emperor by his soldiers in the summer of 251, no fewer than 23 men and boys had issued coins bearing the title of Augustus since the death of Commodus.
Gallus had come to power just after a terrifying ambush by Goths had wiped out an entire Roman army and had claimed the life of the reigning emperor, Trajan Decius. Gallus agreed to a humiliating truce with the Goths before marching to Rome to seek the senate's confirmation of his battlefield appointment. This, perhaps, was his great error in judgment for the Goths invaded the Balkans yet again and the Sasanian King Shapur I took advantage of Rome's weakness to capture Armenia.
Meanwhile, the plague was spreading wildly, claiming even the life of Gallus' young co-emperor Hostilian. Shapur ad- vanced further, sacking Antioch in 252/3, and the Goths and Germans raided Asia Minor, pillaging as far south as Ephesus.
Amid so many crises, which Gallus seemed powerless to prevent, the vigorous actions of Aemilian, the governor of Lower Moesia, was an ember of hope. Aemilian executed Goths who remained in Roman lands and crossed the Danube to score further victories. Considering his success and Gallus' inaction,
it is hardly surprising that Aemilian was hailed emperor by his troops and was compelled to march against Gallus, who in the spring or summer of 253 was murdered by his own soldiers not far from Rome. Aemilian's glory was short-lived, though. The reinforcements from the Rhine that Gallus had ordered finally
arrived under the command of Rome's next emperor, Valerian. In a ferocious battle, Aemilian died, after which Valerian and his son Gallienus each assumed the title of Augustus.