You are thinking, "Volusian" or "Volusianus", at least! Coins from the Rome mint tell us more. Sear 9739 with AEQVITAS AVGG reverse: IMP CAE C VIB VOLUSIANO AVG which tells us his name included "C. Vibius Volusianus". ["Vibius" is fully spelled out on some coins of Trebonianus Gallus, his father] This next coin from the Antioch mint is more complex: VBERITAS AVG Sear 9772, RIC 237b (under Trebonianus Gallus) Four dots below the bust and reverse figure = officina 4. IMP C V AF GAL VEND VOLUSIANO AVG which RIV IV [page 158 in part 3] thinks might abbreviate C. Vibius Af[inius] Gal[lus] Vend[umanianus] Volusianvs I suppose the "Vendumanianus" name is attested elsewhere [It is not the expansion of VEND that leaps to mind]. I'll bet most of us would be happy with one Volusian example. The Rome varieties with the first legend above are common. I like coins with various names and titles and this legend from Antioch is unusual (although Sear does not think it therefore more valuable, although it is much rarer). It arrived today.
Both coins are nice, but the Antioch is my favorite. Here are the only two I have: VOLUSIAN AR Antoninianus OBVERSE: IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right REVERSE: CONCORDIA AVG G - Concordia seated left, holding patera and two cornucopiae Struck at Serdica, 251-253 AD 3.4g, 20mm RIC 168 (Trebonianus Gallus), C 25 VOLUSIAN AE25 OBVERSE: AVTOK K G AFIN GAL OVEND OVOLOCCIANOC CEB, radiate and draped bust right REVERSE: ANTIOXEWN MHTRO KOLWN D-e, SC below, Tyche seated facing within tetrastyle temple, the river-god Orontes swimming beneath her, ram leaping right above Struck at Syria-Antioch, 251-253 AD 17.1g, 30mm SNGCop 295
I have one of these common Rome issues, but seeing as how I haven't even bothered to photograph it and can't even remember buying it, you could say I didn't even need one Volusian in the first place. I have to say, however, that your post has just made this most forgettable of emperors a little bit more interesting.
Those are very nice examples ... I don't have an antoninianus, but I do have this colourful Sestertius to toss into your thread: Volusian AE Sestertius Date: 252 AD Diameter: 27.3 mm Weight: 13.7 grams Obverse: IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG - Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Volusian Reverse: IVNONI MARTIALI - Juno, holding patera and scepter, seated in domed distyle temple References: RIC 253a
I can't add to the name game but here are two different Volusian options. The first is from Provincia Dacia which is easy to confuse for the Viminacium coins except that it has an eagle and a lion (no bull) and different reverse legend. OK, mine could be a bit better but it is what I found in the junk box. The VIB is clear. The Antioch (Pisidia) is a nice coin with bad spelling. I can live with the VIB AP GAL (or is it GALVS?) but the next word seems to be VSSIANO completely skipping the VOL which would seem to be the important part. I bought the Volusian the same day as the following which is not Volusian but confirms that mint had penmanship problems. The acsearch coin has the same obverse die but a different reverse. http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=2148165
Mine is from antioch and according to Dane of wildwinds, unlisted. Doesnt have the letters the OP has though Volusian (251 - 253 A.D.) AR Antoninianus O: IMP C C VIB VOLVSIANVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: ROMAE AETERNAE AVG, Roma seated left with Victory & spear, shield at side, ui in ex. Antioch Mint 4g 20mm
