Brockages of third century antoniniani are scarce (much more common on Republican denarii).
Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed l. (pardon my humor)
Trebonianus Gallus Silver Coins
Antioch Mint Third Issue
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.
I have not tried to collect every combination of officina numbers but I do keep track of all of the coins that go on the market and will eventually publish a full listing of the combination and numbers of each. As with anything about these coins and this historical period, please feel free to e-mail me if you have ideas to share or questions I might be able to help you with: marius1@sonic.net
| RIC | Obverse/Reverse |
Notes |
Obverse Photo | Reverse Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brockage | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
A "brockage" is made when the mint worker accidentally
leaves a coin on the die and then strikes another. The new coin
has the obverse of the previous coin, in reverse, in stead of being
imprinted with the reverse it is supposed to have. Read all about
brockages at this excellent
FORVM page. Brockages of third century antoniniani are scarce (much more common on Republican denarii). |
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed l. (pardon my humor) |
| 79 | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
The last Antioch issue is much more common than the first,
and its engraving is of inferior quality - both signs of an emergency
requiring rapid army mobilization against Antioch's foes to the east. -/- (T. Fenyvesi Collection) ./- VII/VII |
   |
   |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADVENTVS AVG Gallus on horseback l., raising r. hand and holding sceptre. |
| 80 | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
-/- ./. 3.3g ..../.... |
   |
   |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEQVITAS AVG Aequitas stg, l., holding scales and cornucopiae. |
|
80 var unlisted |
IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
Obverse error: legend ending ...PAVG -/- ./. I have also seen this same error with a coin of officina VI/VI |
  |
  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEQVITAS AVG Aequitas stg, l., holding scales and cornucopiae. |
| 80 | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
Blundered reverse legend .../... ?/VI 3.8g VI/VI |
   |
   |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEQVTAS AVG Aequitas stg, l., holding scales and cornucopiae. |
| ? | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
This at first seems to be a very odd error, but it is
likely the result of on overstrike of AEQVITAS AVG on top of FELICITAS
PUBL - the third arm gives it away. What makes it so odd is that
there is no way to tell if the ITAS comes from AEQVITAS
or FELICITAS.
.../... |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEQVTAS PVDG Aequitas stg, l., holding scales and cornucopiae (with a third arm holding cadaceus) |
|
81 var unlisted |
IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
2.56g From collection of Dr. F. Óvári There is another example in the Hungarian National Museum |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEQVITAS AVGG Aequitas stg, l., holding scales and cornucopiae. |
| 82 | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
-/- ./- ./. 4.8g ../.. ../VI .../... 3.1g IIV/IIV IIV/IIV IV/IV -/IIV |
          |
          |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FELICITAS PVBL Felicitas stg. l., holding cadaceus and cornucopiae |
| unlisted | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
Unlisted reverse legend ../.. -/- (?) (Rupert Pflaum collection) |
  |
  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FELICITAS AVG Felicitas stg. l., holding cadaceus and cornucopiae |
| unlisted | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
The legend says Felicitas, but the image is Juno.
../.. |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FELICITAS PVBL Juno(?) seated l., holding corn ears and sceptre. |
| 83 | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
This appears to be the most common second issue type -
I'll try to see how many different officina combinations I can find. -/- -/.... ./. ../.. 4.4g .../... IIV/IIV IV/IV IV/VI ..../.... 4.0g VI/VI VII/VII 5.2g
|
           |
           |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IVNO MARTIALIS Juno seated l., holding corn ears and sceptre. |
| 83 var | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS P AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
Obverse legend ends in "P AVG" in error. VI/VI 3.5g |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IVNO MARTIALIS Juno seated l., holding corn ears and sceptre. |
| 84 | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
This design is only used during Gallus 3rd Antioch issue
and almost never has an officina mark. -/- 4.4g Virtually all coins of this reverse have no officina mark but there are a few rare coins with officina ../.. |
  |
  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARTEM PROPVGNATOREM Mars advancing r., holding spear and shield. |
| 84 | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
Accidentally spelled PRORVGNATOREM. Not in RIC but
noted by Metcalf who analyzed a hoard that consisted almost entirely of
Antioch
MARTEM PRORVGNATOREM antoninianii. -/- -/- 4.0g |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARTEM PRORVGNATOREM Mars advancing r., holding spear and shield. |
| unlisted | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
Accidentally spelled
PROGNATOREM.
I first learned of this type from Tibor Fenyvesi in Hungary who showed me
his coin. These are the only two examples I know of I know of. -/- -/- (T. Fenyvesi Collection) |
  |
  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARTEM PROGNATOREM Mars advancing r., holding spear and shield. |
| 85 | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
-/- (Rupert Pflaum
collection) VII/VII ..../- |
   |
   |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARTI PACIFERO Mars advancing l., holding branch and spear. |
| 86 | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
There are several known spelling errors for this reverse: PAX AVGVG, and PAX AVG AVG ./. ..../- 26.5mm ..../.... VI/VI |
    |
    |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAX AVGVS Pax stg. l., holding branch and transverse sceptre. |
|
86 var unlisted |
IMP CC VIB TRIO GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. | unlisted and very unusual obverse legend ..../.... |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMP CC VIB TRIO GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
| RIC 87 doesn't exist for Gallus' third Antioch issue. |
|---|
| 88 | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
A mule combining 3rd Issue obverse and 1st issue reverse
- I have never heard of another example.
Q: If this coin is so rare, and you claim only one is known, then why is it listed in RIC? A: RIC does not differentiate between the three Gallus issues - RIC 88 exists only for Gallus' first issue. Examples of the PVDICITIA reverse are especially rare, but the always (except in this case) have a fine style obverse. |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PVDICITIA AVG Pudicitia, veiled, std. l., raising right hand, holding transverse sceptre |
| 89 | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
..../.... |
  |
  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROMAE AETERNAE AVG Roma std. l., holding Victory and spear, shield at her side. |
|
89 var unlisted |
IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
Blundered reverse legend: ATERNAE. -/.. ../.. |
  |
  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROMAE ATERNAE AVG Roma std. l., holding Victory and spear, shield at her side. |
|
89 var unlisted |
IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
Blundered reverse legend, missing AVG -/- |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROMAE ATERNAE Roma std. l., holding Victory and spear, shield at her side. |
| 90 | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
../.. ..../.... |
  |
  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAECVLM NOVVM Hexastyle temple with figure in center. |
| 91 | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
.../... |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAECVLLM NOVVM Hexastyle temple with figure in center. |
| 91 | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
Misspelled reverse legend IIV/IIV |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SACVLLM NOVVM Hexastyle temple with figure in center. |
| 92 | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
./. ../.. |
  |
  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VBERITAS AVG Uberitas stg. l., holding purse and cornucopiae |
|
92 var unlisted |
IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
The 'B' is missing so the reverse now says 'VERITAS',
meaning 'truth'. The same error occurs fairly frequently (at least
five dies) on the Antioch antoninianii of Trajan Decius, but this is the
only Gallus coin I have seen. I found it in a dealer "you pick'
tray. -/- |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VERITAS AVG Uberitas stg. l., holding purse and cornucopiae |
| 93 | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
-/- ../.. VI/VI
|
   |
   |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VICTORIA AVG Victory running l., holding wreath and palm. |
|
93 var unlisted |
IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
Misspelled reverse legend. Unlisted in RIC but
published by W. Metcalf in Museum Notes 22 based on a single example
found in the "Antioch Hoard'.
|
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IVCTORIA AVG Victory running l., holding wreath and palm. |
| 94 | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
./. |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VICTORIA AVG Victory stg. r. standing on globe, holding wreath and palm. |
| 95 | This type doesn't exist for Gallus' third Antioch issue |
|---|---|
| 96 | IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
By far the rarest Antioch type of all issues. I had
originally thought it was reported in error because of the odd 'AVGG'
reverse legend and that there were none in the Dorchester, Cuntetio, or
Eauze hoards. The only reference was the Gibraltar Hoard which
listed a single coin and no picture so I suspected it was either
barbaric, or a misattributed coin of Gallus from the Branch mint which
is fairly common and has the same reverse and obverse legend except fot
the 'PF'. This coin has typical Antioch metal and style so I
believe it is official. The Gibraltar Hoard is discussed in 1962
Numismatic Chronicle paper by Gallwey, "A hoard of third-century
antoniniani from Southern Spain" (Thanks to 'Mauseus' on the
FORVM Discussion Board
for this information). .../- |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIRTVS AVGG Virtus stg. R. holding spear and leaning on shield |
I welcome you to contact me at marius1@sonic.net