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.
Normal Volusian Types
|
205 |
IMP CC VIB VOLUSIANVS AVG Bust
radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
|
 |
 |
|
FELICITAS PVBL Felicitas stg. l., holding long caduceus and
cornucpiae |
|
206 |
IMP CC VIB VOLUSIANVS AVG Bust
radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
The bottom coin is very special - it was given to me by a
friend and it is overstruck on a denarius of Clodius Albinus! The right
side of the reverse contains the fragment "D CLOD". |
  |
  |
|
VIRTVS AVGG Virtus stg. r.,
holding spear and leaning on shield |
|
206 var |
IMP CC VIB VOLUSIANVS AVG Bust
radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
Le Tresor D-Eauze points out minor this variation - the
spear has no point making it a 'staff'. |
 |
 |
|
VIRTVS AVGG Virtus stg. r.,
holding staff and leaning on shield |
Volusian Coins with Reverses Proper to Gallus
|
209 |
IMP CC VIB VOLUSIANVS AVG Bust
radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
|
  |
  |
|
IVNO MARTIALIS Juno std. l., holding corn ears (?) and
sceptre |
|
210 |
IMP CC VIB VOLUSIANVS AVG Bust
radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
|
 |
 |
|
LIBERTAS PVBLICA Libertas stg. l., holding pileus and
transverse sceptre. |
|
211 |
IMP CC VIB VOLUSIANVS AVG Bust
radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
|
 |
 |
|
PAX AETERNA Pax stg. l., holding branch and transverse
sceptre |
|
unlisted |
IMP CC VIB VOLUSIANVS AVG Bust
radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
|
 |
 |
|
PIETAS AVGG Pietas veiled, stg. l., raising both hands, altar left. |
Mules that combine Rome with Branch mint
types
|
195 |
IMP CAE C VIB VOLUSIANO AVG Bust
radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
This coin is a hybrid with a Rome mint obverse, and Milan (according to
RIC) reverse. The authors of the "Cunetio Treasure" showed that
these 'Milan' coins must actually be a special issue minted in Rome, or
at least using dies made at the Rome mint (how else to explain hybrids
like this one). The special issue was easily the largest Rome mint
issue of Trebonianus (he had a total of five) and it's being shipped off
to the Balkans (a very high percentage of this issue is found in hoards
there) indicates great military activity in that location.
|
  |
  |
|
PAX AETERNA Pax stg. l., holding branch and transverse
sceptre |
|
unlisted |
IMP CAE C VIB VOLUSIANO AVG Bust
radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
Coins with the branch mint obverse and Rome reverse are
far more rare than with an opposite arrangement. |
 |
 |
|
PM TRP IIII COS II Emperor stg. l., sacrificing over lighted
tripod and holding short sceptre |
|
unlisted |
IMP CAE C VIB VOLUSIANO AVG Bust
radiate, draped, cuirassed r. |
A mule with Volusian Rome obverse and Gallus Branch Mint
reverse! An unusually high percentage of mules have odd looking
portraits which suggests they are not just the result of mismatched
dies. |
 |
 |
|
LIBERTAS PVBLICA Libertas stg. l., holding pileus and
transverse sceptre. |
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I welcome you to contact me at
rbeale@sonic.net