Look at what i purchased today: Trajan Decius ant

Trajan Decius, AD 249-251
AR Antoninianus, 22mm, 4.2g, 12h; Rome mint.
Obv.: IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right.
Rev. DACIA Dacia, wearing long robes, standing left, holding vertical staff with ass’s head.
Reference: RIC IVc 12b, p. 121

This has been a very slow month for me, mainly because I've been spending on other hobbies such as pipe smoking (buying new pipes and tobacco) and my fish keeping hobby, so coins have sort of taken a back seat. But I didn't want to end the year with a whimper, so when this one came up at a great price, I had to snap it up, considering I didn't have any coinage of Decius.

I liked the reverse mostly, and I think it's cool to have an ass' head on a coin. Not my only Roman coin with an ass head either. See below:


M Junius Silanus denarius.

Anyway, things may be a little slower from here on out as I focus a little more on the fish keeping hobby (I need me one of them 120 gallon tanks and more fish), and rekindle my passion for pipe smoking (pipes and tobacco are not cheap) but fear not, for I will never leave ancient coin collecting. I will always be around and I will still be adding coins to my collection, even if it is a little slower than before.

*PS: One of my mollies gave birth the other day! Yay! I got me some baby fish to care for.

 

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Did I miss something? Did New Years come and go without my knowledge?

Great coins bottom feeder. Of course, the Silanus is my favorite. That's a really cool Ass head for sure.

 

This object is called a Dacian Draco...here's some info from another topic about this-

"RIC V describes it as a “staff surmounted by head of ass” but RIC V is woefully outdated. Some people also refer to it as a wolf’s head, which it does resemble a bit and perhaps it blends wolf and dragon attributes. Below is an example of the Draco from Trajan’s Column. Troops carried these into battle and they were fitted with fabric which flowed behind as air passed through and the standard also made a whistling sound, which was intended to disturb the enemy."





a bit from Ammianus Marcellinus on the draco-

"Behind the motley cavalcade that preceded him the emperor's person was surrounded by purple banners woven in the form of dragons and attached to the tops of gilded and jewelled spears; the breeze blew through their gaping jaws so that they seemed to be hissing with rage, and their voluminous tails streamed behind them on the wind." The Later Roman Empire book 16 10:7

 

Apparently it is now a draco? Anyway, I didn't promise I wouldn't buy anything else. I learned my lesson on that. But I will slow down a little now that I have three passions competing for my hobby money: Fish, coins, pipe tobacco. (not in that particular order)

Here's me with a coin I don't think I've shared yet on this forum, one of my 20 gallon fish tanks (I've got two of them now), and my favorite pipe. I call this picture "My Three Vices". @Bing, does the pipe look familiar to you with that Bing avatar? Apparently this was Bing Crosby's favorite pipe style.

 

Seller's pics.

 

Very nice @Pishpash . I really love the reverse on yours. The level of details are amazing. Sweet coin my friend. Enjoy it.

 

A nice axample

 

Nice pipe, fish, and coin @Sallent !


RI Trajan Decius 249-251 CE AR Ant Dacia



RR Junius Silanus 91 BCE Roma B behind Biga I above S 225 Cr337/3

 

Nice coin, I like the toning on it.


Trajan Decius (249 - 251 A.D.)
AR Antoninianus
O: IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG; radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right.
R: PANNONIAE; the two Pannoniae, veiled, standing right and left facing one another, clasping right hands in front of standard between them.
Rome Mint, 251 A.D.
22mm
3.2g
RIC IV Rome 26


Trajan Decius (249 - 251 A.D.)
Billon Tetradrachm
Syria, Seleucis and Pieria
O: AYT K Γ ME KY TPAIANOC ΔEKIOC CEB, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right; Z below.
R: ΔHMAPX EΞOYCIAC / S C. Eagle standing left on palm branch, wreath in beak.
26mm
11.5g
Prieur 548

 

Me,too, but you can not post that picture and claim the toning is natural. I suspect pipe fumes is better for coins than for baby mollies, though.

 

If I didn't have to get my grandsons Christmas gift today I believe that likely would be headed to my house.
Priority first (sigh)
Congrats, great coin Sallent.

 

A excellent choice for breaking your 'coin fast'!

 

Two terrific coins @Sallent !!!

We seem to have the same vices: I smoke 'Black and Mild' Pipe tobacco cigars, love coins and eat fish

I'm still missing a 'Draco' type and now I have to be on the 'look-out' for one

 

I have my vices, but I think I should refrain from advertising them here.

 

If it is MEAT, it is for EAT!

 

Stay away from my pet fish, they are under the protection of Smith & Wesson and Mr. Winchester.

 

I got through the extremely stressful first year of law school thanks to a steady diet of Black and Mild Pipe tobacco cigars and orange juice spiked with cheap Russian vodka. Half my class was on antidepressant medication, and people had breakdowns. I kept myself sane however thanks to those cheapo Black and Mild and the bottle of "orange juice".

These days my tastes are a little more refined. A glass of wine with dinner, and a pipe bowl full of Half and Half pipe tobacco or Prince Albert pipe tobacco, or if it's the weekend, a Cuban cigar.

 

I am wondering why Decius minted so many Dacia standing (with draco or standard) coins during such a short rule. Aurelian also minted Dacia standing coins, but those are rare. Afaik, coins from other emperors feature Dacia mourning/captive, not standing/felix

 

The previous Trajan waged several Dacian wars during which he conquered the region - on his coins Dacia is depicted in defeat and mourning. As a senator and consul, Decius was given a prominent command in the Danube by Philip I and he went on to quell the revolt of Pacatianus. At this point, Decius' troops elevated him to the throne. He accepted and marched on Italy, where he defeated Philip I at Verona.

The senate granted Decius the additional name Traianus, perhaps because he was born on the outskirts of Dacia, held a prominent generalship in the Danubian regions and defeated Pacatian. Perhaps the Romans saw him as a second Trajan. By the time of this second Trajan, however, Dacia had long been a stable and loyal province, so one wouldn't expect to see the coinage rubbing in defeat, as it had on the early designs of Trajan I. In fact, Trajan II likely led Dacian legions into battle with soldiers brandishing the Draco standards.

These are the ruminations of an amateur historian - take them with a grain of salt.