The Story of Trebonianus Gallus

Trebonianus Gallus (Latin: Gaius Vibius Afinius Trebonianus Gallus Augustus; 206 – August 253), also known as Gallus, was Roman Emperor from June 251 to August 253, in a joint rule with his son Volusian.

He had two children in his marriage with Afinia Gemina Baebiana: Gaius Vibius Volusianus, later Emperor, and a daughter, Vibia Galla. His early career was a typical cursus honorum, with several appointments, both political and military. He was consul and in 250 was made governor of the Roman province of Moesia Superior, an appointment that showed the confidence of Emperor Decius in him.

His Rise to Power

In June 251, Decius and his co-emperor and son Herennius Etruscus died in the Battle of Abrittus at the hands of the Goths they were supposed to punish for raids into the empire. According to rumors supported by Dexippus (a contemporary Greek historian) and the thirteenth Sibylline Oracle, Decius' failure was largely owing to Gallus, who had conspired with the invaders. In any case, when the army heard the news, the soldiers proclaimed Gallus emperor, despite Hostilian, Decius' surviving son, ascending the imperial throne in Rome. This action of the army, and the fact that Gallus seems to have been on good terms with Decius' family, makes Dexippus' allegations improbable. Gallus did not back down from his intention to become emperor, but accepted Hostilian as co-emperor, perhaps to avoid the damage of another civil war.



Bronze of Trebonianus Gallus dating from the time of his reign as Roman Emperor, the only surviving near-complete full-size 3rd-century Roman bronze (Metropolitan Museum of Art). It is theorized that he held a trident in his right hand.

Anxious to secure his position at Rome and stabilize the situation on the Danube frontier, Gallus made peace with the Goths. Peace terms allowed the Goths to leave Roman territory while keeping their captives and plunder. In addition, it was agreed that they would be paid an annual subsidy. Reaching Rome, Gallus' proclamation was formally confirmed by the Senate, with his son Volusianus being appointed Caesar. On June 24, 251, Decius was deified, but by July 15 Hostilian disappears from history—he may have died in an outbreak of plague.

Gallus may have also ordered a localized and uncoordinated persecution of Christians. However, only two incidents are known to us: the exile of Pope Cornelius to Centumcellae, where he died in 253 and the exile of his successor, Pope Lucius, right after his election. The latter was recalled to Rome during the reign of Valerian.




Trebonianus Gallus

AR Antoninanus, 23mm 3.9 grams

Milan mint, AD 251-253.

Obverse: IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right

Reverse: PIETAS AVGG, Pietas veiled, standing left by altar, raising both hands.

Reference: RIC 72; RSC 88; Sear (1998) 2790; Sear 9643.

Like his predecessors, Gallus did not have an easy reign. In the East, an Antiochene nobleman, Mariades, revolted and began ravaging Syria and Cappadocia, then fled to the Persians. Gallus ordered his troops to attack the Persians, but the Persian Emperor Shapur I invaded Armenia and destroyed a large Roman army, taking it by surprise at Barbalissos in 253. Shapur I then invaded the defenseless Syrian provinces, capturing all of their legionary posts and ravaging their cities, including Antioch, without any response. Persian invasions were repeated in the following year, but now Uranius Antoninus (a priest originally called Sampsiceramus), a descendant of the royal house of Emesa, confronted Shapur and forced him to retreat. Uranius proclaimed himself emperor, however, and minted coins with his image upon them.

Uranius Antoninus (not mine)

AR tetradrachm, Emesa, Syria. 253-254 AD.

26mm, 10.21 gr. Obverse: AYTO dot K dot COYΛΠ ANTΩNINOC dot CE, radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right

Reverse: ΔHMAΡX EΞOYCIAC YΠA TO B, SC in ex. eagle standing left, head and tail right, wings spread, wreath in beak.

Reference: Prieur 1058; Baldus Nachtrag pl. 51


Meanwhile, on the Danube, Scythian tribes were once again on the loose, despite the peace treaty signed in 251. They invaded Asia Minor by sea, burned the great Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, and returned home with plunder. Lower Moesia was also invaded in early 253. Aemilianus, governor of Moesia Superior and Pannonia, took the initiative and defeated the invaders.



Remnants of The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Death

Since the army was no longer satisfied with the Emperor, the soldiers proclaimed Aemilianus emperor. With a usurper, supported by Pauloctus, threatening the throne, Gallus prepared for battle. He recalled several legions and ordered reinforcements to return to Rome from Gaul under the command of the future emperor Publius Licinius Valerianus. Despite these dispositions, Aemilianus marched into Italy ready to fight for his claim and caught Gallus at Interamna (modern Terni) before the arrival of Valerianus. What exactly happened there is not clear. Later sources claim that after an initial defeat, Gallus and Volusianus were murdered by their own troops; or Gallus did not have the chance to face Aemilianus at all because his army went over to the usurper. In any case, both Gallus and Volusianus were killed in August 253.

Volusian (251-253 A.D.)

AE Sestertius, 29 mm 16 grams, Rome mint

Obverse: IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right

Reverse: FELICITAS PVBLICA S-C, Felicitas standing left, leaning on column, holding caduceus and sceptre.

Reference:

RIC 251a, Cohen 35, Sear 9786.



Feel free to post coins of any relevant rulers, including Gallus, Volusian, Aemilian, etc.

 

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Good information. Thanks

TREBONIANUS GALLUS
AR Antoninianus
OBVERSE:IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right
REVERSE: LIBERTAS PVBLICA, Libertas standing left, holding pileus and transverse scepter
Struck at Uncertain mint (Milan?), AD 252
3.5g, 21mm
RIC 70; Cohen 68; RCV 9636; Hunter 50

VOLUSIAN
AE30
OBVERSE: AVTOK K G AFIN GAL OVEND OVOLOCCIANOC CEB, radiate and draped bust right
REVERSE: ANTIOXEWN MHTRO KOLWN D-e, SC below, Tyche seated facing within tetrastyle temple, the river-god Orontes swimming beneath her, ram leaping right above
Struck at Syria-Antioch, 251-253 AD
17.1g, 30mm
SNGCop 295

 

First, excellent write up on a troubled and turbulent time.
Second, thank GAWD modern rulers don't pose nude for their portraits

And lastly,
Here's the man

Trebonianus Gallus
(251-253). AR Antoninianus(20mm, 2.8g, 12h). Rome, 251-2. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust r. R/ Pietas standing l., raising both hands. RIC IV 41; RSC 84.


Volusian
AR Antoninianus. Rome, AD 251-253. IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / CONCORDIA AVGG, Concordia seated left, holding patera and double cornucopiae.

 

I have lots of his coins. This is my favorite, though. This antoninianus may not look special, but it is scarce to rare and unlisted in Sear, Cohen, or Hunter. There are no examples at Wildwinds and no properly-attributed examples at acsearchinfo, either. That’s not the most interesting thing about it, though. The interesting thing is its obverse inscription and what implications it might have for where it may have been struck, with scholarly disagreement on where it may have been minted. The issues raised about the circumstances and location of its mintage resulted in a thought-provoking discussion.


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.

 

..kool write up ACH.....

Treb. Gal provincial and Vol sestertius...

 

Great post @ancient coin hunter. That statue at the Met Museum is beautiful in person, but the, uh, proportions are not the most flattering for him.

Here is one of Volusian that I recently added.


Volusian, Antoninianus (22 mm, 3.35 g) Rome. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Volusian right, seen from behind/ Rev. PAX AVGG Pax standing front, head to left, holding branch in her right hand and scepter in her left. RIC 179.

And here are 2 of his predecessors.

Trajan Decius, AR antoninianus (22 mm, 4.05 g). Rome, 250 AD. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Trajan Decius right / ADVENTVS AVG, emperor on horseback left, extending arm in salute and holding scepter. RIC 11b.

Herennius Etruscus Caesar, Antoninianus 250-251 AD, (23mm., 3.12g.), Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right/ Rev. PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, Caesar, in military attire, standing left, holding wand in right hand and transverse spear in left hand. RIC 147.

 

Some Greeks:



AR tetradrachm Trebonianus Gallus (251-253). Seleucis & Pieria / Antiochia. Obv.: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right; S below. Rev.: ΔHMAPX ΕΞOYCIAC YPATOP, eagle standing left on palm, with wings spread, holding wreath in beak; SC in exergue. 26 mm, 10.35 gr. VF, a little rust in the field. Prieur 679 (19 pcs).



And a very nice reverse on this one, of one of my favorite mints:
AE Trebonianus Gallus, Alexandria Troas. Obv. Laureated bust t.r. Rev. Marsyas with wine skin t.l. COL AVG TROAD. 21 mm, 7.54 gr.

By the way, the wineskin summarizes the hybris of Marsyas and its result: his gruesome death, for he was skinned by the god Apollo, whom he had challenged to a musical contest. And his skin was made into a winebag. (Always comes in handy: be your own wineskin).

Finally, here is Volusian, this coin is from a less prominent mint in nowadays Turkey.



AE Volusianus (251-253, son of Trebonianus), Eukarpeia, Phrygia. Obv. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. AV K OVOΛOVCCIA/NON (Woloussian literally). Rev. Artemis standing facing, drawing arrow from quiver, holding bow, on the left a stag, on the right a small cult-statue of Kybele. EVKAPΠEΩN. 24 mm, 5.95 gr.

 

@ancient coin hunter ..Excellent write, found it really interesting thanks for posting....Some lovely coins been posted by the members too!
I have a TG showing the characteristic caricaturised portrait from the Antioch mint..

Trebonianus Gallus, AR Antoninianus, Antioch, 251-253 AD, 21.6mm; 3.55 gr.
Obverse- IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Reverse- VICTORIA AVG, Victory walking left, holding wreath and palm.
RIC IV-3, 93;

 

Thanks for the informative write-up!

Also, I am extremely glad that full-body nude statues of political leaders are a thing of the past. The thought alone might give me nightmares... just imagine!

Without further ado, here are my T-Bone and Volusian:

Trebonianus Gallus, Roman Empire, antoninian, 251–153 AD, Mediolanum mint. Obv: IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, bust of Trebonianus Gallus, draped, cuirassed, and radiate, r. Rev: PAX AETERNA, Pax standing l., holding up branch in extended r. hand and transverse scepter in l. 22mm, 2.93g. Ref: RIC IV.3 Trebonianus Gallus 71. Ex X6 collection.


Volusian, Roman Empire, antoninian, 251–253 AD, Mediolanum mint. Obv: IMP C C VIB VOLVSIANVS AVG, bust of Volusian, draped, cuirassed, radiate, r. Rev: VIRTVS AVGG, Virtus, helmeted and in military attire, standing r., holding spear in r. hand and leaning on shield with l. 22mm, 2.47g. Ref: RIC IV,3 Volusian 206.

 

Trebonianus Gallus
Coin: Silver Antoninianus
IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG - Radiate, draped bust right
PROVIDENTIA AVGG - Providentia draped, standing facing, looking left, holding globe in right hand, transverse sceptre in left hand
Mint: Rome (251 AD)
Wt./Size/Axis: 4.27g / 22mm / -
Rarity: R1




Volusian
Coin: AR Antoninianus
IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG, - radiate, draped bust right
PAX AVGG - Pax standing left, holding branch and sceptre.
Mint: Rome (251-2153AD)
Wt./Size/Axis: 3.00g / 18mm / -
References:

• RIC 179
• RSC 70
• Sear 9758

 

What evidence is there that this is Gallus rather than some gladiator of the day who adopted the hair style of the emperor?

Modern is a relative matter as is 'nude' but this statue of George Washington as Zeus was on the East grounds of the US Capitol from 1843 until those against its symbolism and exposure got it moved to the Smithsonian in 1908. Washington had died before the statue was commissioned so we can't blame him for it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington_(Greenough)

 

Thanks for questioning this. I just read up on the statue and watched a few thing. After watching this:


I am now almost certain that it is not.

And thanks for the bare chested Washington. I cannot unsee this

 

Very interesting post @ancient coin hunter

Trebonianus Gallus
Antoninianus, Mediolanum (?), 251 - 253 AD
20 x 23 mm, 3.73 g
Ref.: RIC IV Trebonianus Gallus 69; RSC 46 (Milan); Sear 9631; Cohen 46;

Ob.: IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, radiate bust right
Rev.: IVNO MARTIALIS, Juno seated left, holding corn-ears(?) in right hand and long scepter in left

​

Volusianus
Antoninianus, Rome, 252 AD
19 x 21 mm, 3.46 g
Ref.: RIC IV Volusian 173; Cohen 45 (4f.); HCC.8; RCV (Sear) 9750;

Ob.: IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG, Bust of Volusian, radiate, draped, cuirassed, right
Rev.: IVNONI MARTIALI, round distyle temple, Iuno Martialis seated inside; in right field, star *

​

 

TREBONIANUS GALLUS
Rare. AE29. 19.56g, 29.3mm. PHOENICIA, Tyre, AD 251-253. Rouvier 2462. O: IMP C C [VIBIVS TREBO G]ALLVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: COL TVRO [METR], Hexastyle temple enclosing statue of Fortuna-Astarte standing facing, placing right hand on trophy; to right, Victory standing on column crowning Fortuna-Astarte; at feet to left, small statue of Marsyas; below, altar between murex shell and palm tree.

 

Great writeup and discussion here! The only coin I have of his is this chunky provincial I got at a local con show from Nilus coins (Bill came up to MN from TX and was the only ancients dealer there, and must've sat with him for over an hour lol) about 16 months ago...


Trebonianus Gallus, Ruled 251-253 AD
AE31, Syria, Antioch
Obverse: AVTOK K Γ OYIB TPEB ΓAΛΛOC CEB, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: ANTIOXEΩN MHTPO KOΛΩN, Δ E above and S C below Tyche seated facing within tetrastyle temple; below, river god Orontes swimming left; above temple, ram jumping right, head left.
References: McAlee 1181, Butcher 507, SNG Cop 292
Size: 31mm, 17.84g

 

Great coins everybody - I've really enjoyed looking at them.

 

Great write up! This Trebonianus Gallus is easily one of my favorite Roman coins



Also recently got a screaming good deal on a Sestertius; wish the name was more visible but I love the portraiture


And the rest of the family...

Volusian as Augustus


Hostilian as co-Augustus with Gallus


I was not actually able to get a solid date on when Hostilian died; Wikipedia used to give a July date, but now claims November, which I have heard elsewhere? Coins of both Herennius Etruscus and Hostilian as Augustus are rare, although those of Etruscus are much more rare.

Additionally, it is worth mentioning that as a show of good faith, Gallus allowed Decius' widow Herennia Etruscilla to retain her title of Augusta until Hostilian died. I wonder if he also permitted her to continue to appear on coins?


And of course Aemilian who did them in


And lastly, a testament to how quickly all of this happened - one of the first coins issued in the name of Gallienus shortly after Valerian took control

I guess they didn't have a bust done yet, so it seems the engravers used a modified Volusian portrait

 

Looks like a nice good silver piece of Gallienus. Those are hard to come by.

 

some of mine...