Traditionally, coins with an ADVENTVS inscription commemorate the emperor's arrival at Rome, either at the commencement of his reign, or on his return from a distance. They may also refer to his advent in some city or province of the empire. Stevenson explains, "At their accession to the throne, emperors were not conveyed in a chariot nor in any other vehicle, but went on horseback, and sometimes even on foot; and thus they made their first public entry into the capital of the Roman world."[1] As such, you would think that coins of Trebonianus Gallus bearing this inscription would refer to a discrete event and would have been issued during a single emission. However, coins bearing this reverse type were issued in all three emissions by the mint of Antioch during Gallus' reign.[2] This continuous emission suggests, as Mattingly explains, that coins with the ADVENTVS inscription celebrate the accession, not the literal advent, of the emperor.[3] Post your ADVENTVS coins, coins of Trebonianus Gallus, or anything you feel is relevant! Trebonianus Gallus, AD 251-253. Roman AR antoninianus, 3.82 g, 19.7 mm, 11 h. Antioch, third emission, AD 252-253. Obv: IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: ADVENTVS AVG, Emperor on horseback, left, raising right hand and holding scepter. Refs: RIC 79; Cohen 2; RCV 9622; Hunter 56; ERIC II 44. ~~~ 1. Stevenson, Seth William., and Frederic Madden. A Dictionary of Roman Coins, Republican and Imperial, Commenced by the Late Seth William Stevenson, ... Revised, in Part, by C. Roach Smith, ... and Completed by Frederic W. Madden, .. G. Bell and Sons, 1889, p. 8. 2. Beale, Richard. Four Bad Years 249-253 AD, sonic.net/~marius1/mysite/index.htm. For examples of those of the 1st and 2nd issues of Antioch, see here; for those of the 3rd, see here. 3. Mattingly, Harold, et al. The Roman Imperial Coinage Vol. IV. Part III. Gordian III – Uranius Antoninus. Spink, 1949, p. 158.
Excellent write up. No ADVENTVS coins yet, and I narrowly missed out on a SPES REIPVBL type from London for Constantine issued alongside an ADVENTVS issue minted at the time when he was gathering troops in Britain for his conflict with Maxentius. Outbid in the last second...
Nice one, RC. I have an Adventus type of his predecessor Trajan Decius, which is kind of like a bookend with your coin. Mine celebrates the start of Decius’ reign, your coin signifies the end. Trajan Decius, AR antoninianus (22 mm, 4.05 g). Rome, A.D. 250. IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Trajan Decius right / ADVENTVS AVG, emperor on horseback left, extending arm in salute and holding scepter. RIC 11b
Don't have the type yet. Here is one reverse that seems to be an Adventus scene with the legend VIRTVS PROBI AVG.
Thanks for the explanation, @Roman Collector . Boy, they would do ANYTHING to show their political advertising and their face on a coin! I only have one Trebonius Gallus, and looks like he is not going anywhere. RI Trebonianus Gallus 251-253 CE Ant 20mm 3.0g Apollo Lyre RIC 32 RSC 20
Another Decius RIC 11b. I like the laughing horse on this one. Traianus Decius, AD 249-251. AR Antoninianus (21mm, 4.24g). Rome mint. Obv: IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG; Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Traianus Decius right. Rev: ADVENTVS AVG; Emperor riding on horse left, raising right arm and holding sceptre. Ref: RIC 11b; Cohen 4.
Good to know that sometimes Adventus issues can't necessarily be tied to the emperor's arrival in a particular city - I guess we need to check the distribution of the issue. Here are a couple that I think are pretty securely tied to particular events. First an Adventus from Rome showing Aurelian coming to kick the mint workers' butts. (Not really, of course, but definitely tied to Aurelian's arrival in Rome.) This one celebrate's Constantine's arrival in London to recruit for his campaign against Maxentius.
