By now, it seems like most of Gallus' reverse types have been covered by @Roman Collector in his excellent "T-Bone Tuesday" series, and as a result there hasn't been a new entry in quite a while; however, he has told me to continue the series were I to obtain coins that haven't been featured yet, and that's exactly what I've just received: Gallus (251-253), Antoninianus, Antioch mint. Obverse: IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; Reverse: FELICITAS AVG, Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopia; RIC IV - (c.f. RIC IV 82), AHG 7 This coin wasn't cheap, and it's not particularly attractive or well preserved, so for someone uninstered in the Antiochene emissions of antoniniani it would be very easy, at a first glance, to attribute this coin as the very abundant RIC IV 82; that coin is probably the most common one from Gallus and Volusian's final emission from Antioch (though I am unfortunately still missing an example), and, alongside RIC IV 84 (MARTEM PROPVGNATOREM), it's also the only one to be exclusive to it, as no examples of these types from the first two emissions have been found so far. Their appearance in this final issue might not be casual, though, as the poor quality of the engraving and of the flans, as well as the lowered silver content, makes it clear that it was produced in large numbers for military purposes, the most likely cause being Shapur's invasion of Syria and the subsequent Roman defeat at Barbalissos. Considering the context, it makes sense to have introduced coins featuring Felicitas Publica, to reassure the population that they're being protected, and Mars Propugnator, to promise to push back the invaders that threaten the stability of the borders. Besides that, though, there's nothing else to add about the common variant, as the depiction of Felicitas is the usual one, standing left with caduceus and cornucopia, symbolizing peace and prosperity. Here's a very nice example from CNG, since I lack one myself: (Photo courtesy of CNG) However, my coin is not a FELICITAS PVBL, but a far rarer variant unlisted in RIC, FELICITAS AVG! This type is only listed for Volusian (RIC IV 216), and it is very rare for him as well. My example appears to be the only one in the sales records, and despite a very thorough search through the relevant websites and reference books, I have managed to find only five other examples: 1 & 2) Two examples were found in the portion of the Gibraltar Hoard examined by Gallwey and published in the 1962 edition of "The Numismatic Chronicle and Journal of the Royal Numismatic Society" ("A HOARD OF THIRD-CENTURY ANTONINIANI FROM SOUTHERN SPAIN", by H.D. Gallwey); unfortunately, only one of them was illustrated in the plates, and even then only the obverse was shown; however, it is clearly a die match to my example. As for the other one, since it was not shown, there's the possibility that it could be my example or one of the other two confirmed in private hands and shown later; 3) Another example was part of the so called "Antioch Hoard of Gallienus", which was published in 1992 by Alex G. Malloy ("The Antioch hoard of Gallienus") and then dispersed in trade; this example appears to be a double die match to mine, too; 4 & 5) Two examples are shown on Richard Beale's "Four Bad Years" website, with one being in his collection and the other in the hands of Rupert Pflaum; despite the first one being in very rough shape and apparently with a very low silver content, it must still be an official product of the mint, as it is a reverse die match to the only example of Volusian's RIC IV 216 that I've found on the internet, also from the Beale collection: Finally, as far as provenances go, it's worth mentioning that my coin is actually a Wildwinds plate coin, though its upload date is not present and neither is any further provenance, unfortunately: These rare coins are certainly an interesting issue, as the Gallus version was apparently struck with two obverse dies and two reverse ones, one of which shared with Volusian, too; I wonder if this means that this isn't simply an engraver's error, but a conscious decision to introduce a new legend. Did it have any special connotations for the public that spent these coins, when compared to its standard PVBL counterpart? I guess these are questions that will always be unanswered. That's all for now; post your Antiochene coins of T-Bone, your Felicitas coins, your rare variants of common coins, or anything else you feel like might be relevant ! Sources: - "The Antioch hoard of Gallienus", Alex G. Malloy, 1992; - "A hoard of third-century antoniniani from southern Spain", H.D. Gallwey, The Numismatic Chronicle and Journal of the Royal Numismatic Society, Volume 2 (1962); - "The Antioch hoard of antoniniani and the eastern coinage of Trebonianus Gallus and Volusian", William E. Metcalf, Museum Notes (American Numismatic Society), Volume 22 (1977); - "Four Bad Years" by Richard Beale;
Excellent write up. I am always happy when a collector finds a rare variety of a coin. This requires study, attention to details and a touch of chance. I find the OP coin attractive, good details on the portrait and also on the reverse, fully readable legend. I try (and sometimes fail) to avoid very worn coins (not the case here!) but a coin in this condition surely has its charm for me. It shows us that it was used for its main purpose and it was, perhaps, buried in an acidic soil or it was in sea water. HISTORY. I have 2 coins with Felicitas. Julia Maesa AR Denarius Rome, ca 218-222 IVLIA MAESA AVG - draped bust to right Rev: SAECVLI FELICITAS - Felicitas standing to left, holding long caduceus and sacrificing over lighted altar; in left field, star. RIC IV 272 (Elagabalus); BMCRE 81-82 (Elagabalus); RSC 45b 2,27 g, 20 mm Titus sestertius, AD 80 Obverse IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P P P COS VIII. Head of Titus, laureate, right; Reverse FELICIT PVBLIC S C. Felicitas standing left, holding sceptre and cornucopiae RIC II, Part 1 (second edition) Titus 143. Old RIC II Titus 89 33 mm 24 g As for Trebonianus Gallus, I have just one coin from him - a tetradrachm from Antioch. Trebonianus Gallus billon tetradrachm, Syria, Antioch, 251-253 ΑΥΤΟΚ Κ Γ ΟΥΙΒ ΤΡƐΒ ΓΑΛΛΟϹ ϹƐΒ; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Trebonianus Gallus, r., seen from rear; below bust: VI / ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ƐΞΟΥϹΙΑϹ, S C; eagle standing on line, facing, head l., spreading wings, holding wreath in beak; between legs: Ϛ RPC vol IX 1805, Prieur 666 (4), McAlee 1172f The reverse is very well preserved. The obverse - not so much. After checking the Antioch tetradrachms issued by Gallus, this can only be RPC IX 1805, Prieur 666, McAlee 1172f (VI below bust) or RPC IX 1806, Prieur 664, McAlee 1172e Specimens (Ϛ below bust) After checking with a magnifying glass, I suspect this is the VI version, making it quite scarce. Too bad the centering and the obverse conservation don't help.
Great new addition and great write up @Claudius_Gothicus ! I enjoyed the read. Your collection of late Roman coins seems to be coming along very well indeed! Here is a Trebonianus Gallus tet from Antioch. 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 is a Felicitas 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) Ex Pars Sale 3, lot 357 (Oct. 2019), Ex Numismatik Naumann 75, lot 643 (Mar. 2019), Formerly slabbed by NGC
Fantastic find, @Claudius_Gothicus, and fantastic write-up! It's great to see the legacy of T-Bone Tuesday going strong! The more FELICITAS issues, the worse the situation -- or so it was for Trebonianus Gallus, anyway. He had a lot of Felicitas issues. I STILL need an example of your type for my collection, but I may never acquire one because they are so scarce. Rome mint FELICITAS: 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, 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, 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 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, 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, 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.
So nice to have T-Bone Tuesday back. I missed 'em. And very interesting coin to boot, @Claudius_Gothicus Here is my very ugly RIC 82, with notes from the "Four Bad Years" site - mine has dots: Trebonianus Gallus Antoninanus (251-253 A.D.) Antioch Mint (3rd Issue) C VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG radiate, draped & cuirassed bust r., 4 dots beneath / FELICITAS PVBL, Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus & cornucopiae, 4 dots in exergue. RIC 82; Cohen 34; RCV 9628 (4.63 grams / 22 mm) eBay Aug. 2020 Attribution notes: "Gallus' third issue at Antioch has the exact same obverse inscription as the first and second issues, and RIC does distinguish between any of the three issues. Nevertheless they are easy to differentiate: The first issue shows Gallus undraped and with a fine style portrait with officina marks only on the obverse, the second issue is the same but uses officina marks on both sides of the coins, while the third issue coins show Gallus draped with a coarse style portrait. I am starting to collect data on all the officina marks. The officina data for Gallus Antioch coins in RIC isn't of much use because it mixes all the issues." http://sonic.net/~marius1/mysite/Gallus Antioch Third Issue.htm
