C. Messius Quintus Decius
Dynasty: Family of Decius
Augustus (AD 249-251)Although Decius may have had a noble family, he was born in Pannonia. His wife, Herennia Etruscilla, came from a noble Etruscan family. The emperor Philip sent Decius (although the later was reluctant) to take command of the rebellious Danubian legions. After winning a victory against the Goths, his troops proclaimed him emperor and marched him to Rome against Philip in AD 249. Their armies met at Verona and Philip was defeated and killed. Decius was hailed by the Senate as Emperor and took the name Trajan as an honorific. During his short reign he issued coins commemorating the Danubian provinces (Dacia, Pannonia and Illyricum) as well as coins commemorating previous emperors that were 'Divi' (Gods). Decius appointed his eldest son, Herennius Etruscus, Caesar in AD 250. Decius also renewed the persecution against the Christians. In AD 251 the emperor had to return to the Danubian frontier to face the Goths again. Before he left, he made his youngest son, Hostilian, Caesar and further elevated his eldest son to be co-Augustus. Hostilian remained in Rome with his mother and Decius departed for the Danube with Herennius. This time Decius may have been betrayed by Gallus, one of his commanders, who some historians (such as Zosimus and Zonaras) claim made a pact with the Goths, leaving Decius and the army vulnerable in a swamp near Abrittus at a critical time, where they were surrounded. According to Zonaras “… Decius pursued them and both he, and his son, and a multitude of Romans fell into the swamp and all perished there, with the result that their bodies, interred in the slime of the swamp, were not found”. Pagan historians, such as Zosimus, describe Decius as an “excellent emperor” but later Christian authors saw his ignominious end (as the first Roman emperor to die in battle against a foreign enemy) as divine justice for his persecutions.
For explanations of many of the abbreviations used in Roman imperial obverse legends, click here.
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Trajan Decius Bronze sestertius issued AD 250/251 Obv: IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, Laureate, draped bust facing right Rev: DACIA, Dacia standing holding standard surmounted by wolf's head
Very Fine
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AUD $350.00
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Trajan Decius Silver antoninianus issued AD 250 Obv: IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, Radiate, draped bust facing right Rev: VICTORIA AVG, Victory advancing left holding wreath and palm
Nearly Extremely Fine
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AUD $120.00
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Trajan Decius Silver antoninianus issued AD 250/251 Obv: IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, Radiate, draped bust facing right Rev: PANNONIAE, The two Pannoniae with two standards
Very Fine-Extremely Fine
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AUD $150.00
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Trajan Decius, Syria, Antioch Billon tetradrachm issued AD 249-251 Obv: AYT K Γ ME TPAIANOC ΔEKIOC CEB, Laureate, draped bust facing right, S below bust Rev: ΔHMAPX EΞOYCIAC, (SC in ex.), Eagle with spread wings standing on palm, head right, wreath in beak
Good Fine
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AUD $140.00
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