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Message:: [QUOTE="ancient coin hunter, post: 4025376, member: 87200"]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. [ATTACH=full]1058336[/ATTACH] 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. [ATTACH=full]1058332[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1058333[/ATTACH] 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 [ATTACH=full]1058338[/ATTACH] 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. <img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Templo-Artemisa-Efeso-2017.jpg/800px-Templo-Artemisa-Efeso-2017.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> 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. [ATTACH=full]1058335[/ATTACH] Feel free to post coins of any relevant rulers, including Gallus, Volusian, Aemilian, etc.[/QUOTE]

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