Trebonianus Gallus Silver Coins

Rome Mint

 

Undated Types

 

 

RIC Obverse/Reverse

Notes

 Obverse Photo Reverse Photo
30  IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r.  
AETERNITAS AVGG  Aeternitias stg. l., holding phoenix on globe and raising skirt
31  IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. very thick - 5.2 grams
ANNONA AVGG  Annona stg. r., holding rudder upright and holding corn ears, l. foot on prow.
32 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. Quite certainly a direct reference to the palgue.
APOLL SALVTARI   Apollo stg. l., holding branch and leaning on lyre, set on rock.
unlisted IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. very rare
FELICITAS AVGG Felicitas stg. l., holding long caduceus and cornucopiae
unlisted IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r., star in tight field very rare
FELICITAS AVGG Felicitas stg. l., holding long caduceus and cornucopiae, star in r. field
33 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r.  
FELICITAS PVBLICA Felicitas stg. l., holding long caduceus and cornucopiae
34 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r., star in tight field  
FELICITAS PVBLICA Felicitas stg. l., holding long caduceus and cornucopiae, star in r. field
34A IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r.  
FELICITAS PVBLICA  Felicitas stg. l., leaning on column, holding cadaceus and transverse sceptre
36 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. A rare reverse type for this reign
LIBERALITAS AVGG Liberalitas stg. l., holding abacus and cornucopiae
37 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r.  
LIBERTAS AVGG  Libertas stg. l., holding pileus and sceptre.
38  IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r., star in r. field  
LIBERTAS AVGG Libertas stg. l., holding pileus and sceptre, star in r. firld
39  IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r.  
LIBERTAS AVGG Libertas stg. l., holding pileus and sceptre, leaning on column
40 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. A rare first issue type with a historically significant meaning:  Gallus tries to put a good light on the peace that he bought from the Goths.

 The portrait is very odd - it appears to be Volusian though the legend is Gallus.  This coin shows a common feature of the period: worn reverse dies.  Mints were willing to let reverse dies become considerably worn before replacing them.
MARTI PACIFERO Mars running l., holdingbranch and spear
unlisted

(RIC 55n)

 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. The Pax reverse is considered by RIC to be proper  proper to Volusian (as RIC 55).  RIC notes this sub variation as RIC 55n.  The actual case is that the coins with the transverse scepter and upright scepter are not variations of the same issue but are completely sepparate issues.   The upright scepter type is normal to Gallus and is rare, whereas the transverse scepter type is normal to Volusian and common. See a full explanation on the PAX  page
PAX AVGG Pax stg. l., holding branch and upright scepter
41 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r.  
PIETAS AVGG  Pietas veiled, stg. l., raising both hands.
42  IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r.  
PIETAS AVGG  Pietas veiled, stg. l., raising both hands, star in r. field
43 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. This 1st issue coin can be found with either AVG or AVGG on the reverse.  The AVGG type is more common.  Rome mint coins of Gallus ending with only AVG are quite scarce and probably come from the very short period before Hostilian is elevated to Augustus (or less likely, the period after Hostilian's death but before Volusian's elevation).
PROVIDENTIA AVG Providentia stg. l., holding transverse sceptre
44 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r.  
PROVIDENTIA AVGG Providentia stg. l., holding transverse sceptre
44n IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. RIC mentions in a note that a coin of this type, with an upright sceptre, was present in the Dorchester Hoard. 4.8 grams.
PROVIDENTIA AVGG Providentia stg. l., holding transverse sceptre
63  IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. From Trebonianus' first issue.  There was only one of these out of all 6000+ Rome mint Trebonianus coins listed for 19 hoards in the "Cunetio Treasure."  RIC calls this a mule with the reverse of Philip but that is not the case. 
ROMAE AETERNAE  Roma std. l., holding Victory and spear: beside her, shield
46a IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. Gallus issued two different types of coins with Salus, goddess of health, in addition to the coin referring to Apollo as "the healer."  This Salus type comes early in the reign so it is probably a generic type and not a reference to the plague.  Some have postulated that the coins with Juno Martialis might be calling  "to the warlike Juno" to fight the plague. 
SALVS AVGG  Salus stg. l., feeding snake coiled around altar and holding sceptre
46b GALLVS  PIVS AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. Very rare short legend
SALVS AVGG  Salus stg. l., feeding snake coiled around altar and holding sceptre
47 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. This variety with AVGVS in stead of AVGG is quite rare (R2 in RIC).  There are a few antoninianii of Gallus, including this reverse type, that have an extremely rare, short obverse legend "GALLVS PIVS AVG".  Other than the picture of a plate coin in RIC, I have never seen one of them.
SALVS AVGVS  Salus stg. l., feeding snake coiled around altar and holding sceptre
48a IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. Since this coin dates to AD 253, it appears after Aemilian's victory (as a general under Gallus).  Ironically, this coin is probably used by Gallus to celebrate that victory which was the source of Gallus destruction.
VICTORIA AVGG   Victory stg. l., holding wreath and palm. 
48b GALLVS  PIVS AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. Very rare short legend 
VICTORIA AVGG   Victory stg. l., holding wreath and palm. 
49 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r.  
VOTIS DECENNALIBVS in laurel wreath

Reverses proper to Volusian

Pretty much every reverse that was used for Volusian exists as a mule for Gallus.  They are all quite rare.  Below I list all the types who's existence I have been able to confirm.

 

 

 

RIC Obverse/Reverse

Notes

 Obverse Photo Reverse Photo
2 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. Reverse design and title proper to Volusian, this type is a mule for Gallus.   
PM TRP IIII COS II Genius of Senate stg. l., holding branch and transverse scepter.
3 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. Reverse design and title proper to Volusian, this type is a mule for Gallus.   
PM TRP IIII COS II Emperor  stg. l., sacrificing over lighted tripod and holding short sceptre
45 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. RIC lists this type under reverses normal to Gallus but it is actually only proper for Volusian.
SALVS AVGG   Salus stg. r., feeding snake from patera
unlisted IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r.  
AEQVITAS AVGG
unlisted IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. Reverse proper to Volusian.  RIC notes that the specimen in Paris, and all three in the British Museum are of poor metal, just as this one is.  It is very interesting that these 'mules' that mix the obverse of one emperor with the reverse of the other are so frequently of poor metal. 
CONCORDIA AVGG  Concordia stg. l., holding patera  and double cornucopiae
52 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. Reverse proper to Volusian.  
CONCORDIA AVGG  Concordia std. l., holding patera  and double cornucopiae
52 var IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. Reverse proper to Volusian.   Odd variant with only one cornucopia.
CONCORDIA AVGG  Concordia std. l., holding patera  and single cornucopiae
53 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. Reverse proper to Volusian. 
CONCORDIA AVGG  Concordia std. l., holding patera  and double cornucopiae. Star in r. field
54 var

unlisted

 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. Reverse proper to Volusian.  The Cunetio Treasure database shows that of 19 hoards, which include 6019 Rome mint coins of Trebonianus' reign, there was only one of these but 68 coins of Volusian with this temple reverse.

RIC doesn't list this coin with a peacock left of Juno.
IVNONI MARTIALI  Juno seated front in round distyle temple, peacock at l.
55 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. The 'normal' type of PAX but in fact extremely rare.  As is common, the abnormal combination of Gallus obverse with a Volusian reverse is a fouree.  It appears that most of these die mixes (mules) did not occur during the normal minting period but at some later time when false metal and no concern for die convention were the norm.
PAX AVGG Pax stg. l., holding branch and transverse scepter
56 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. Reverse normal to Volusian

 
PAX AVGG Pax stg. l., holding branch and transverse scepter, star in r. field
57 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. Reverse normal to Volusian 
VIRTVS AVGG  Virtus stg. l., holding spear and leaning on shield
58 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. Reverse normal to Volusian 
VIRTVS AVGG  Virtus stg. l., holding spear and leaning on shield.  Star in r. field
59 IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. Reverse normal to Volusian  
FELICITAS PVBL Felicitas stg. l., holding long caduceus and cornucpiae
unlisted IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS  AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed  r. Reverse normal to Volusian  
PIETAS AVGG SC  Pietas veiled, stg. l., raising both hands, altar left

Special Issue

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.

 

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 / Special issue 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 / Special issue 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 / Special issue 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
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