Branch Mint (RIC incorrectly attributes these to Milan)

This issue had long been attributed to Milan.  In The Cunetio Treasure, Besly and Bland showed that the existence of hybrids that combined both the so-called Milan mint, with the Rome mint proved that these special issue coins (or fifth issue) were either minted by the Rome mint, or at least by dies supplied by that mint.  According to Jérôme Mairat in Rome XI – Trébonien Galle au Coeur de l’Anarchie Militaire, these special issue coins are found disproportionally higher in hoards of the Balkan regions so it seems that although the coins were minted at Rome, they were shipped to the Balkans to fund the war against the Goths.   Besly and Bland also showed that this special issue was contemporary with issue two and three of Gallus Rome issues.

RIC Obverse/Reverse

Notes

Obverse Photo Reverse Photo
69 IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r.  
IVNO MARTIALIS Juno std. l., holding corn ears (?) and sceptre
70 IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r.  
LIBERTAS PVBLICA Libertas stg. l., holding pileus and transverse sceptre.
70 var

unlisted

 

IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. Missing the final 'A' in PUBLICA.  This coin was shown to me by collector/dealer Guy Braun, who runs a nice internet coin shop in France called GB Collection.

The coin does not even have a trace of the final reverse letter, so I don't think it is the result of a clogged die.

LIBERTAS PVBLIC Libertas stg. l., holding pileus and transverse sceptre.
71 IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r.  
PAX AETERNA Pax stg. l., holding branch and transverse sceptre
72  IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r.  
PIETAS AVGG  Pietas, stg. l., raising both hands, altar left.
75 IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. Reverse proper to Volusian
FELICITAS PVBL Felicitas stg. l., holding long caduceus and cornucpiae
76 IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. Reverse proper to Volusian.  Here's a bit of trivia:  whenever you see an antoninianus of Gallus with a super-long nose as is on this coin, it will invariably be a branch mint coin (and it is not limited to just a few dies!).  We can firmly establish then that these branch mint coins were struck after Gallus lied about how Hostilian died :)
VIRTVS AVGG  Virtus stg. r., holding spear and leaning on shield

Special Issue Hybrids

35 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. (Rome obverse / Branch reverse)  RIC incorrectly lists this as a Rome mint coin.
IVNO MARTIALIS Juno std. l., holding corn ears (?) and sceptre
50 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. (Rome obverse / Branch reverse)

RIC notes that this coin has a Rome mint obverse and a 'Milan" mint reverse.  The fact that many of these mules exist is the basis of Besly and Bland's conclusion that these coins do not come from Milan, but from Rome.

LIBERTAS PVBLICA  Libertas stg. l., holding pileus and transverse sceptre.
unlisted IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. (Rome obverse / Branch reverse)

Based on data in "The Cunetio Treasure", mules with the Rome obverse are about six times more common that those with the special issue obverse and normal Rome reverse.

PAX AETERNA  Pax stg. l., holding branch and transverse sceptre
59 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. (Rome obverse / Volusian special issue reverse)
FELICITAS PVBL Felicitas stg. l., holding long caduceus and cornucpiae
unlisted IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. (Rome obverse / Special issue reverse)
PIETAS AVGG SC  Pietas, stg. l., raising both hands, altar left
unlisted IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. (Rome obverse / Volusian special issue reverse)
VIRTVS AVGG  Virtus stg. r., holding spear and leaning on shield