T-Bone Tuesday -- Viminacium edition

Here's a coin I've had for a while but have never posted on CT before. Post your coins of Trebonianus Gallus, of Viminacium, or anything you feel is relevant!

Viminacium was a Roman Colony founded by Gordian III in AD 239 and the capital of the Roman province of Moesia Superior. The town was located in what is now Serbia. Stari Kostolac and Drmno villages were built over the remnants of Viminacium. You may read about its history here and about the archaeological excavations at the site here.



Coins are known of the emperors from Gordian III with dates AN I (year 1, autumn 239 - autumn 240) to Valerian and Gallienus AN XVI (year 16, autumn 254 - autumn 255). The usual reverse legend on the colonial coinage is P M S COL VIM, abbreviating Provinciae Moesiae Superioris Colonia Viminacium.

The usual reverse type is a female personification of Moesia standing between a lion and a bull, and sometimes holding standards inscribed VII and IIII. The bull and the lion were symbols of the Legions VII Claudia and IV Flavia Felix, which were quartered in the province.


Trebonianus Gallus, AD 251-253.
Roman provincial Æ 26.2 mm, 10.80 g, 12 h.
Moesia Superior, Viminacium, AD 251/2.
Obv: IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
Rev: P M S COL VIM, AN XIII; Moesia standing left; at left, bull standing right; at right, lion standing left.
Refs: RPC IX, 58; AMNG I.1, 163; BMC 41; Moushmov 56; SNG Hungary 509; Wiczay 2099.

 

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Very nice, RC. I actually just got my first coin from Viminacium (and my first of Hostilian) last week.


Hostilian, as Caesar, Moesia Superior, Viminacium, (AE 26.5mm, 12.50 g). Dated CY 12 (251 AD). Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Moesia standing facing, head left; to left, bull standing right; to right, lion standing left; AN XII (date) in exergue. RPC IX 37; Varbanov 194.
Ex. CNG E-Auction 476, From the BLS Collection.

 

Some numismatists have proposed that these branch mint coins (with the IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS AVG inscription) of Trebonianus Gallus were minted in Viminacium!

 

Great post, RC. You make Tuesday so much more fun with your T-Bone posts.

I just got my first T. Gallus from Viminacium this past month:



Trebonianus Gallus Æ Sestertius
Year 12 (250-251 A.D.)
Viminacium, Moesia Superior
IMP C VIBIO TREBON GALLO AVG, laureate draped & cuirass. bust right / PMSC OLVIM, Moesia stdg. facing, bull and lion either side, AN XII in exergue.
Pick 160 var.; Varbanov 203.
(11.27 grams / 25 mm)

Back in 2018 I got his son, Volusian in an unappetizing eBay lot:



Volusian Sestertius
Year 7 (250-251 A.D.)
Viminacium, Moesia Superior
IMP C C VIB VOLVSIANVS AVG laureate bust right, part of breast plate / PMSC - OLVIM Woman (Moesia) standing between bull (Legio VII) and lion (Legio IIII), in exergue AN XII
Pick 172; Martin 5.24.2; Var. 215.
(11.96 grams / 25 mm)

 

My VIMINACIUM versions


RI Aemilianus 253 CE AE24 Viminacium mint Moesia Bull-Lion - Damnatio Memoriae



RI Hostilian 251 CE AE 27 Viminacium Moesia Bull-Lion


Aaand... a TREBONIUS GALLUS


RI Trebonianus Gallus 251-253 CE Ant 20mm 3.0g Apollo Lyre RIC 32 RSC 20

 

For both coins I have that have been attributed to Viminacium, there seems to be some difference of opinion regarding that attribution. Does anyone understand why?

Valerian I, Silvered Billon Antoninianus, 257 AD, Mediolanum [Milan] or Viminacium Mint. Obv. Radiate, draped bust right, IMP VALERIANVS P AVG/ Rev. Virtus standing left, chiton off right shoulder (leaving right breast bare), holding Victory with right hand and resting left hand on shield, with reversed spear propped against left arm, VIRTVS AVGG. RIC V-1 267 (Milan) (p. 58) obv. leg. var. [RIC identifies reverse figure as a soldier; Wildwinds identifies reverse figure on RIC 267 as Virtus (see http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/valerian_I/i.html)]; Cohen 258 obv. leg. var. [Cohen identifies figure as Virtus or Roma], RSC IV 258 (Milan) obv. leg. var. [identifying reverse figure as soldier]; Sear RCV III 9992 obv. leg.var. [identifying reverse figure as Virtus, but characterizing Virtus as male; ascribed to Viminacium Mint for unstated reasons] (ill.); Göbl 811d (same obv. leg.) [identifying reverse figure as Virtus; Viminacium mint] [R. Göbl et al., Moneta Imperii Romani, Band 35: Die Münzprägung des Kaiser Valerianus I / Gallienus / Saloninus / (253/268), Regalianus (260) und Macrianus / Quietus (260/262) (Vienna, 2000)]; Cunetio 770 (same obv. leg.) [identifying reverse figure as Virtus] [Besly, E. & R. Bland, The Cunetio Treasure: Roman Coinage of the Third Century AD (London, 1983)]. 22.5 mm., 3.4 g.



Mariniana (deceased wife of Valerian I), Silvered Billon Antoninianus. 254-258 AD, Viminacium [or Rome] Mint. Obv. DIVAE MARINIANAE, Veiled and draped bust right on crescent/ Rev. CONSECRATIO, Peacock standing, head right, tail in splendor. RSC IV 4, RIC V-1 4, Sear RCV III 10068. 21.5 mm., 3.9 g.

 

I have only one Trebonianus Gallus :

Trebonianus Gallus, billon tetradrachm, Antioch ad Orontem. AD 251-253.
Prieur 668; BMC 641.
AYT(O)K K Γ OYIB TΡEB ΓAΛΛOC CEB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from the back, Z beneath the bust. / ΔHMAΡX EΞOYCIAC, eagle standing right, head left, tail left, wings spread, wreath in beak. Z between legs, SC below.

 

Nice write-up and coins.
IMP C VIBIO TREBON GALLO AVG, AN XII, Varbanov 203

IMP C GALLVS P FELIX AVG, AN XII, Varbanov 207

IMP C C VIB TRIB GALLVS AVG, AN XIII, Varbanov 210