Name this Roman Ruler

I have this coin. It is without any attribution and I can't read the legend. I'm sure this is a slam dunk for many here, so I capitulate and ask for your help in identifying this coin. Thanks

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

The "other" Trajan: Decius.

 

really? I thought I saw decius, but I also saw a lot of other things also. Thanks

 

For sure Trajan Decius.

 

IMP TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG is the obverse legend.

 

Uberitas avg is the reverse legend.

 

I knew I could count on the folks here.

I guess it is the same type as this one at WildWinds?

http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear5/s9384.html

 

Looks about right to me.

 

I wanted to comment further on this coin but didn't have the time earlier. The student of Roman mythology can ask the question, "Who is Uberitas, and where did she come from?"

The OP coin has numismatic significance because Uberitas first appears on the antoniniani of Trajan Decius. She hangs around on the coinage of the Third Century, primarily the issues of Gallienus, Claudius Gothicus, Postumus, et al. (If you find a rare issue of Trebonianus Gallus with Uberitas at a reasonable price, buy it!) Then she altogether disappears by the tenure of Aurelian.

Now it's no big deal that a new god appears in the kaleidoscope of the Roman pantheon, but my question is: why exactly did the Romans need a new goddess of wealth and prosperity? Moneta was still hanging around (Hey - I'm standing right here!), as was Abuntantia and others. So where did Uberitas come from and why? Enquiring minds need to know.

 

Maybe it has some type of other meaning, maybe referring to the magnitude of plenty? For example some of us worship Collectia but some of us worship Horedika. Some of us have Moneta and some of us have Uberitas Moneta.

 

We have Abuntantia but we have Indulgencia.

 

Yes of course, there had to be some aspect to Uberitas that other abundance gods were missing, at least to some of the population. I just don't know what that is, and I can't seem to find any information on Uberitas other than general descriptions.

 

IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG is the obverse legend.
Caesar Messius Quintus

 

oops...

 

Uberitas is richness in a fruitfulness/fertility sense and the purse she holds is made from an udder. You will find those who dispute this but ask them to explain the shape of the money bag on my Gallienus and Decius. I would not have shown the Gallus but JA wanted to see it.



As I recall some bags held by Hermes/Mercury have the protrusions also.

 

Yes, many of them do look exactly like Hermes' money bag, others have the simple triangular shape.