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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Roman Collector, post: 5199370, member: 75937&quot;]Throughout his entire reign, Gallus&#039; coinage portrayed him as a different kind of emperor, publicizing benevolent traits, such as CONCORDIA (harmony), <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/trebonianus-gallus-doth-protest-too-much-methinks.357384/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/trebonianus-gallus-doth-protest-too-much-methinks.357384/">FELICITAS</a> (happiness), LIBERTAS (liberty) and PIETAS (piety). Today&#039;s post concerns Libertas, the personification of liberty.</p><p><br /></p><p>The name <i>Libertas</i>, meaning <i>freedom</i>, is derived from the Latin adjective, <i>līber</i>, meaning <i>free.</i> The term cannot be understood outside the historical context of slavery. The term was used literally and allegorically to refer to not being enslaved. Temples to Libertas were built in response to the creation of the Roman Republic after the overthrow of the Tarquin kings. By the reign of Julius Caesar, temples to Libertas existed on the Aventine and Palatine hills and a statue of Libertas had been erected in the Roman Forum.</p><p><br /></p><p>The connection of Libertas with slavery is illustrated on coins by their references to the manumission ceremony whereby slaves were freed. Libertas is typically depicted as a standing female figure, holding a cap called a <i>pileus</i> in her right hand, and in her left hand a particular wand which the Romans called a <i>vindicta</i>. During the manumission ceremony, slaves wore the <i>pileus</i> and were lightly struck with the <i>vindicta</i>. This reverse type is thus rich with meaning. Indeed, these attributes of Libertas were featured on early US coinage, such as the first half cent.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/4378670-001o-jpg.935216/" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>There are numerous types of Trebonianus Gallus illustrating Libertas. They were issued by the mint in Rome as well as the branch mint formerly attributed to Mediolanum and in all three metals. The goddess may appear standing upright, or standing with her legs crossed and leaning on a column, with or without a star in the field (click <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/stars-in-the-fields-on-the-antoniniani-of-trebonianus-gallus.357182/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/stars-in-the-fields-on-the-antoniniani-of-trebonianus-gallus.357182/">here</a> for a discussion), and with the legend LIBERTAS AVGG (the liberty of/from the emperors) or LIBERTAS PVBLICA (public liberty).</p><p><br /></p><p>Here are some antoniniani from my collection (and a sestertius is on its way in the mail).</p><p><br /></p><p>Rome mint:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1214701[/ATTACH]</p><p>Trebonianus Gallus, AD 251-253.</p><p>Roman AR antoninianus, 3.62 g, 21.3 mm, 1 h.</p><p>Rome, 2nd emission, AD 251-252.</p><p>Obv: IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.</p><p>Rev: LIBERTAS AVGG, Libertas standing left, holding pileus and scepter.</p><p>Refs: RIC 37; RSC 63; RCV 9634; Hunter 8.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/trebonianus-gallus-libertas-avgg-with-star-rome-antoninianus-jpg.1016701/" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Trebonianus Gallus, AD 251-253.</p><p>Roman AR antoninianus, 3.95 g, 21.3 mm, 12 h.</p><p>Rome, 3rd emission, AD 252.</p><p>Obv: IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.</p><p>Rev: LIBERTAS AVGG, Libertas standing left, holding pileus and scepter; star in right field.</p><p>Refs: RIC 38; RSC 63a; RCV 9634; Hunter 8.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/trebonianus-gallus-libertas-avgg-rome-antoninianus-jpg.947607/" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Trebonianus Gallus, AD 251-253.</p><p>Roman AR antoninianus, 2.82 g, 20.4 mm, 1 h.</p><p>Rome, 1st officina, 5th emission, mid-AD 253.</p><p>Obv: IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.</p><p>Rev: LIBERTAS AVGG, Libertas standing left, holding pileus and transverse scepter, legs crossed, leaning on column.</p><p>Refs: RIC 39; Cohen 67; Sear 9635; Hunter p. cv; ERIC II 78.</p><p><br /></p><p>Unknown branch mint (see <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-few-coinages-of-milan-more-than-1000-years-apart.355716/#post-4191954" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-few-coinages-of-milan-more-than-1000-years-apart.355716/#post-4191954">here</a> and <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/scarce-trebonianus-gallus-mule.350243/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/scarce-trebonianus-gallus-mule.350243/">here</a> for a discussion):</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/trebonianus-gallus-libertas-pvblica-rome-antoninianus-jpg.1024451/" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Trebonianus Gallus, AD 251-253.</p><p>Roman AR antoninianus, 3.69 g, 22 mm, 12 h.</p><p>Uncertain mint (Rome? Branch mint?), AD 251.</p><p>Obv: IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.</p><p>Rev: LIBERTAS PVBLICA, Libertas standing facing, head left, holding pileus and transverse scepter.</p><p>Refs: RIC 50; Cohen 69; Eauze 1006; RCV --.</p><p>Notes: Scarce; only 3 specimens in the Eauze hoard. Coins with this reverse type are more commonly encountered with the shorter IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG inscription traditionally attributed to a branch mint at Mediolanum (RIC 70, Cohen 68). Reverse die match to Harlan J. Berk Buy or Bid Sale 201, <a href="https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=4279836" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=4279836" rel="nofollow">lot 222</a>, July 13, 2017. [USER=89514]@curtislclay[/USER] of Harlan J. Berk considers this coin to be the &quot;earliest issue of Gallus&#039; branch mint, still using the Roman obverse legend beginning IMP CAE C, which was soon to be contracted to IMP C C only.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/trebonianus-gallus-libertas-pvblica-milan-antoninianus-jpg.1040377/" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Trebonianus Gallus, AD 251-253.</p><p>Roman AR antoninianus, 3.01 g, 25 mm, 12 h.</p><p>Branch mint (traditionally attributed to Mediolanum), AD 252.</p><p>Obv: IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.</p><p>Rev: LIBERTAS PVBLICA, Libertas standing left, holding pileus and transverse scepter.</p><p>Refs: RIC 70; Cohen 68; RCV 9636; Hunter 50.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>Let&#039;s see your coins with Libertas reverse types, coins of Trebonianus Gallus or Volusian, or whatever you feel is relevant!</i>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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