Trebonianus Gallus doth protest too much, methinks

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Roman Collector, Mar 28, 2020.

  1. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Post your coins depicting Felicitas or anything you feel is relevant!

    Felicitas was the personification of happiness, good luck, and prosperity. There are subtle difference in the words for "happiness" in Latin: Felicitas connotes contentment, whereas hilaritas connotes rejoicing and laetitia connotes delight and gladness. Felicitas is depicted as a Roman matron, dressed in a stola and palla, either standing or seated, holding a caduceus and cornucopia or scepter. Sometimes she leans on a column.

    While Trebonianus issued no coins depicting Laetitia or Hilaritas, he issued a LOT of coins advertising Felicitas, using all three mints to do so. Because a shameful and costly peace treaty with the Goths and a devastating plague ravishing the empire resulted in so much felicitas for the pvblica that numismatists and historians refer to AD 249-253 as "four bad years."

    The emperor doth protest too much, methinks. It's as if he's saying ...

    1234.jpg

    And ...

    1235.jpg
    I'll show examples of FELICITAS coins issued by Trebonianus Gallus from each of his three mints. My collection is by no means complete, either.

    While you experience delight (laetitia) in looking at slipshod artistry on irregular, debased flans, knowing that the worst is yet to come, I hope you enjoy this song about Felicity from my high school days, which I also refer to as "four bad years." Orange Juice is perhaps best described as a Scottish Talking Heads.



    Rome mint FELICITAS:

    Trebonianus Gallus FELICITAS PVBLICA antoninianus Rome.jpg
    Trebonianus Gallus, AD 251-253.
    Roman billon antoninianus, 3.80 g, 20.8 mm, 12 h.
    Rome, AD 251-2.
    Obv: IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
    Rev: FELICITAS PVBLICA, Felicitas standing left, holding long caduceus and cornucopiae.
    Refs: RIC 33; Cohen 37; RCV 9629; Hunter 4.

    Trebonianus Gallus FELICITAS PVBLICA star antoninianus Rome.jpg
    Trebonianus Gallus, AD 251-253.
    Roman billon antoninianus, 3.52 g, 21.2 mm, 6 h.
    Rome, AD 251.
    Obv: IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
    Rev: FELICITAS PVBLICA, Felicitas standing left, holding long caduceus and cornucopiae; star in right field.
    Refs: RIC 34; RSC 37a; RCV 9629; Hunter 6.

    Trebonianus Gallus FELICITAS PVBLICA leaning on column antoninianus Rome.jpg
    Trebonianus Gallus, AD 251-253.
    Roman billon antoninianus, 3.43 g, 20.4 mm, 7 h.
    Rome, AD 252.
    Obv: IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
    Rev: FELICITAS PVBLICA, Felicitas standing left, leaning on column, holding caduceus in right hand and transverse scepter in left hand.
    Refs: RIC 34A; Cohen 41; RCV 9630; Hunter 15.

    Volusian FELICITAS PVBLICA sestertius.jpg

    Volusian as Augustus, AD 251-253.
    Roman orichalcum sestertius, 17.26 g, 27. 4 mm 10 h.
    Rome, AD 252.
    Obv: IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
    Rev: FELICITAS PVBLICA S C, Felicitas standing left, leaning on column, holding caduceus in right hand and transverse scepter in left hand.
    Refs: RIC 251a; Cohen 35; RCV 9786; Hunter 39.

    Branch mint (traditionally attributed to Mediolanum) FELICITAS:

    Trebonianus Gallus FELICITAS PVBL antoninianus Mediolanum.jpg

    Trebonianus Gallus, AD 251-253.
    Roman AR antoninianus, 3.60 g, 21.3 mm, 7 h.
    Uncertain mint (formerly attributed to Mediolanum), AD 251-253.
    Obv: IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
    Rev: FELICITAS PVBL, Felicitas standing facing, head left, holding long caduceus and cornucopiae.
    Refs: RIC 75; Cohen --; RCV --; ERIC II --; Wiczay 2509; Banduri p. 59.

    Antioch mint FELICITAS:

    Trebonianus Gallus FELICITAS PVBL antoninianus Antioch.jpg

    Trebonianus Gallus, AD 251-253.
    Roman AR antoninianus, 3.94 g, 21.1 mm, 6 h.
    Antioch, AD 251-253.
    Obv: IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
    Rev: FELICITAS PVBL, Felicitas standing facing, head left, holding long caduceus and cornucopiae.
    Refs: RIC 82; Cohen 34; RCV 9628; Hunter p. cvi.
     
    Last edited: Mar 28, 2020
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  3. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Vespasian 10.jpg
    VESPASIAN
    Æ Dupondius
    OBVERSE: IMP CAES VESP AVG P M T P COS V CENS, radiate head left
    REVERSE: FELICITAS PVBLICA S-C, Felicitas standing facing, head left, holding caduceus & cornucopiae
    Struck at Rome, 74AD
    10.2g, 28mm
    RIC 716, (RIC [1962] 555), Cohen 152, BMC 698
    Ex: J.Q. Adams
    Septimius Severus 3.jpg
    SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COSII - Laureate head right
    REVERSE: FELICITAS TEMPOR - Grain ear between crossed cornucopia
    Struck at Emesa, 194-195 AD
    2.3g, 17mm
    RIC 374a
    Julia Mamaea 2.jpg
    JULIA MAMAEA
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: IVLIA MAMAEA AVG, diademed and draped bust right
    REVERSE: FELICITAS PVBLICA, Felicity seated left, holding caduceus and cornucopia
    Struck at Rome, 230 AD
    2.9g, 21mm
    RIC 338
    Julia Domna 4.jpg
    JULIA DOMNA
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: IVLIA AVGVSTA Draped bust right
    REVERSE: FELICITAS Felicitas standing, head left, holding short caduceus and long scepter
    Struck at Rome, 206 AD
    3.09g; 18mm
    RIC 551
    Julia Domna 2.jpg
    JULIA DOMNA
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: IVLIA AVGVSTA, draped bust right
    REVERSE: SAECVLI FELICITAS, Isis, wearing polos on head, standing right, left foot on prow, holding Horus; behind, rudder
    Struck at Rome, 200 AD
    2.37 grs, 19mm
    RIC 577, RSC 174, BMC 75
    Caracalla 11.jpg
    CARACALLA
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: M AVR ANTON CAES PONTIF, draped bust right
    REVERSE: IMPERII FELICITAS, Felicatas standing left, holding caduceus and child on left arm
    Struck at Rome, 196-8 AD
    3.2g, 16mm
    RIC 9, RSC 95, BMC 199
    Elagabulus12.jpg
    ELAGABALUS
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: IMP ANTONINVS AVG, laureate, draped bust right
    REVERSE: TEMPORVM FELICITAS, Felicitas standing left with caduceus & cornucopiae
    Struck at Rome, 219 AD
    2.4g, 17mm
    RIC 150
    Philip I 9.jpg
    PHILIP I
    AR Antoninianus
    OBVERSE: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate draped & cuirassed bust right
    REVERSE: FELICITAS TEMP, Felicitas standing left with caduceus & cornucopiae
    Rome mint: AD 246 (5th Issue, 1st Officina)
    3.5g, 24mm
    RIC IViii, 31, page 72 - Cohen 43
     
  4. svessien

    svessien Senior Member

    Yay, let's hear it for Felicitas!

    Sear 9629 Trebonianus Gallus.jpg
     
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  5. svessien

    svessien Senior Member

    That last ant of @Roman Collector has a portrait more similar to the ones of Phillip I. That's interesting.
     
  6. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Nice writeup and coins @Roman Collector ! Interesting about those 4 Bad Years. LOL, love the graphics... Hey, I remember that band, but was out of HS then, and too busy in University/Starting career.

    Nary a Felicitas from TrebGall for me. Here a few from other Rulers.

    Hmmm... What did Felicitas get for THIS Guy...
    upload_2020-3-28_9-38-11.png
    RI Valerian I 253-260 CE AR Ant Felicitas stndg Caduceus and Cornucopia

    Ex: @dougsmit ... but my pic. :D
    upload_2020-3-28_9-40-12.png
    RI AR Den Julia Domna 200 CE Felicitas Isis Horus RIC 577


    This is one of my favorites from the Empire.
    upload_2020-3-28_9-41-8.png
    RI Vespasian, AD 69-79
    Æ Dupondius, 12.2g, 27mm, 6h; Rome mint, AD 73.
    Obv.: IMP CAES VESP AVG PM TP COS IIII CENS; Radiate head left.
    Rev.: Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopia, S - C
    Reference: RIC II 539(b), p. 78
    Ex: @John Anthony
    LOL, John summed it up well in his auction comments!
    "Today’s entry in the annals of big bad bronzes is this dupondius of Vespasian. Felicitas is the personification of divinely inspired productivity, blessedness, and happiness, so buy this coin and be happy! I don’t need to blather on about its beauty and condition - the coin speaks for itself."

    I have always really liked @Bing 's version of this coin, as well as the Provenance. Well done! (his past posting probably inspired me to chase this one!)
     
    Last edited: Mar 28, 2020
  7. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    I've got a Volusian, too:

    Volusian (251-253 A.D.)

    AE Sestertius, 29 mm 16 grams, Rome mint

    Obverse: IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right

    Reverse: FELICITAS PVBLICA S-C, Felicitas standing left, leaning on column, holding caduceus and sceptre.

    Reference:

    RIC 251a, Cohen 35, Sear 9786.

    volusian.jpg
     
  8. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    My one Trebonianus Gallus coin* also happens to have a FELICITAS reverse:

    Trebonianus Gallus, AR Antoninianus. 251-253 AD, Rome Mint. Obv: IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: FELICITAS PVBLICA, Felicitas standing left, leaning against column, holding short caduceus and transverse scepter. RIC IV-3 34a, RSC IV 41. 22mm, 3.46g.

    Trebonianus Gallus - Felicitas jpg version.jpg
    And one more FELICITAS reverse, this one of Aelius Caesar, albeit not expressly identified as such in the reverse legend:

    Aelius Caesar AR Denarius, 137 AD. Obv. AELIVS CAESAR, bare head right / Rev. TR POT COS II, Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae. RSC II 50, RIC II Hadrian 430 (1926 ed.). 18 mm., 2.70 g.

    Aelius Caesar denarius jpg version.jpg

    * I think I will always envy the many of you who seem to have an almost endless number of coins of every Emperor!
     
  9. svessien

    svessien Senior Member

    I also have that Aelius, Donna:

    0E242AC3-4739-4D2B-BF6D-683C3214B244.jpeg

    And a Julia Mamaea. That’s about all the felicity I have to offer, I’m afraid.

    93193CB5-65F6-49A0-9785-87A7AC4269D5.jpeg
     
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  10. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    This is the sestertius version of the denarius svessien posted above :D.

    Julia Mamaea & Felicitas Sestertius.jpg
     
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  11. svessien

    svessien Senior Member

    Really nice coin. I like how she casually leans on the column. Looks carefree:)
     
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  12. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Felicitas thinks she's Joe Cool or something!
    Joe Cool.JPG
     
  13. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Very nice collection RC. 2015-01-07 01.08.12-28.jpg
    Vespasian Dupondius Rome 73 AD, Felicitas Pvblica, 26mm, 12.74gm, RIC 581.
     
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  14. Gary R. Wilson

    Gary R. Wilson ODERINT, DUM METUANT — CALIGULA

    Julia_Maesa_AD_218-224-removebg-preview.png

    Julia Maesa (Augusta)
    Coin: Silver Denarius
    IVLIA MAESA AVG - Draped bust right, hair braided in straight lines and tucked into large bun at back of head.
    SAECVLI-F_ELICITAS - Felicitas standing facing, head left, patera in right hand over lit altar to left, caduceus in left hand, * in right field
    Exergue:


    Mint: Rome (220-222 AD)
    Wt./Size/Axis: 2.51g / 18mm / 6h
    References:
    RIC IV 271 (Elagabalus)
    BMCRE 79 (Elagabalus)
    RSC 45
    Sear5 #7757
    Provenances:
    Savoca Coins
    Acquisition/Sale: Savoca Coins Internet 22nd Blue Auction #1657 $0.00 07/19
    Notes: Jul 28, 19 - The Gary R. Wilson Collection
     
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  15. Curtisimo

    Curtisimo the Great(ish)

    Well I don’t have any Trebonianus Gallus coins with Felicitas but here is a T. Gallus tet...

    A Trebonianus Gallus Tetradrachm from Antioch
    B852BD25-DAAA-463E-9696-D3535AC69C2B.jpeg
    Syria, Seleucis and Pieria, Antioch
    Trebonianus Gallus
    AR tetradrachm, struck ca. 251-253, 1st officina
    Obv.: Laureate draped and cuirassed bust right
    Rev.: Eagle standing facing, head and tail right, with wings spread, holding wreath in beak; A between legs. SC in exergue
    Ref.: McAlee 1173a; Prieur 657
    Ex Tenbobbit Collection; Purchased privately from the collection of an English gentleman in 2005; Ex AMCC 2, Lot 434 (Nov. 9, 2019)


    ...and here are some Felicitas

    Aelius: The Emperor Who Wasn’t
    374B5AB0-31B0-4092-845B-3C9554F4A7DA.jpeg
    Roman Empire
    Aelius as Caesar (AD 136-138)
    AR Denarius, Rome mint, struck AD 137
    Dia.: 17 mm
    Wt.: 3.24 g
    Obv.: L AELIVS CAESAR Bare head right
    Rev.: TR POT COS II Felicitas standing left holding caduceus and cornucopia
    Ref.: RIC II 430 (Hadrian) Scarce
    Ex Pars Sale 3, lot 357 (Oct. 2019), Ex Numismatik Naumann 75, lot 643 (Mar. 2019), Formerly slabbed by NGC


    B70A7F34-7A4E-4C68-9670-C4A62D311A65.jpeg
    Roman Empire
    Geta as Caesar
    AR Denarius, Rome mint, struck ca. AD 198-200
    Dia.: 18 mm
    Wt.: 2.33 g
    Obv.: L SEPTIMIVS GETA CAES. Bareheaded and draped bust right.
    Rev.: FELICITAS TEMPOR. Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopia.
    Ref.: RIC IVa 2
    Ex AMCC 1 (Dec. 2018)
     
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  16. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    It's interesting that this type is classified as "scarce" (in the old RIC, I assume), and yet this is the third example of it posted in this thread alone. I suspect that if it was ever truly scarce, it isn't anymore!
     
  17. Spaniard

    Spaniard Well-Known Member

    Nice coins all ! @Roman Collector..Thanks for the write up....

    SEP BLACK.jpg
    AR Denarius Septimius Severus 193-211 AD
    3.37g. 18mm. 202-210 AD Rome mint.
    Obverse- SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right
    Reverse- FELICITAS AVGG, Felicitas standing facing, head left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae
    RIC IV 261
    val black background.jpg
    Valerian I AR Antoninianus.Rome AD 255-256 ...2.93g
    Obverse..IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS PF AVG, radiate, draped bust right
    Reverse..FELICITAS AVGG, Felicitas standing left holding caduceus and cornucopiae.
    RIC 87, Cohen 55; Sear 9936.
     
  18. Curtisimo

    Curtisimo the Great(ish)

    The rarity rankings in the RIC volumes are based on how many specimens existed in the museum collections that the RIC authors had access to and the criteria was different for each volume so it’s not necessarily a measure of how many still exist. It’s just an indicator.

    I would still suspect that the type is fairly scarce considering the coins of Aelius are less common in general. Of course its all relative considering that compared to most modern coin issues every coin in the thread is downright rare.
     
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  19. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    I don't know what RIC's exact criteria were for classifying a coin as "scarce," but of course that volume was published almost 100 years ago and there have been a lot of coins unearthed since then. So I would still think that there are more examples of this coin around now than there were in 1926. Although, admittedly, there are only 10 listed in OCRE (see http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.2.hdn.430a_denarius), and 22 in the CNG archives, both of which are, I think, lower numbers than would be the case for a "common" Roman coin.
     
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  20. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Trebonius Gallus... no Felicitas.

    [​IMG]
    RI Trebonianus Gallus 251-253 CE Ant 20mm 3.0g Apollo Lyre RIC 32 RSC 20
     
  21. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    OK, this Philip from Antioch is Spes but the legend is SPES FELICITATIS ORBIS so maybe it can be seen here.
    ro0730bb2194.jpg
     
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