98

As

obv. IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG  Laureate draped cuirassed bust right

Likely a small medallion not intended for circulation.

99

Reverse proper to Volusian

rev.PM TRP IIII COS IIPP  Genius of Senate stg. l., holding branch and transverse scepter.

One of the two types of dated Trebonianus sestertii.  Both types are listed as rare, but I have seen only a couple of RIC 99 and many of these. 

Note the TR.P. IIII COS II:  How do we account for Tribune year 4, when Trebonianus only reigned two years?  Also, there are no coins from year 1 and 2 (except a very rare As does have TR.P.II).  One scholar has suggested that Trebonianus had adopted himself into Trajan Decius' family and had not simply adopted adopted Hostilian as a son.  If this were true, Trebonianus, just as Decius' other 'sons', could use the parent's title on their coins.

18.1 g

This is the only coin of Trebonianus that I have ever seen with " TRP III".   The whole subject of the dating of Trebonianus' coins and reign is dealt with in detail in RIC.  I can find no evidence of tooling but I can not be sure that this is not just a normal type that, for some reason intentional or not, has lost a numeral.

Ex-Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger Auction 376 (who noted the unusual date and apparently believed the coin was unaltered).

101

Reverse proper to Volusian

AEQVITAS AVGG SC  Aequitas stg. l., holding scales and cornucopiae

Perhaps the last coin to celebrate Rome's 1000th anniversary of 248AD.  Philip had issued a whole series of coins, and Decius had issued the DIVO antoninianii series which had continued on under Gallus (mules exist of DIVO series coins with obverses of Volusian and Gallus).

 20.7g ex-Astarte

unlisted

RIC only lists this As with APOLLO (RIC 104b) and not APOLL.  I have seen one other of these, at cgb.fr

Same as above except "APOLLO" instead of "APOLL."  This type is much rarer. 

As

From the collection of Niklovitz, Auktion L. Hamburger[76] 10/19/1925 and Leo Benz,  Lanz Auction 100 (2000) lot 318, and Jacquier List 36 (2009).   8.45 g

Reverse proper to Volusian. 

As

Reverse proper to Volusian.  A very rare type. Bottom coin available for sale/trade.

As

107

obv.. IMP CAES C VIBIVS TREBONIANVS GALLVS AVG  Laureate draped cuirassed bust right

rev. FELICITAS PVBLICA SC  Felicitas stg. l., holding long cadaceus and cornucopiae.

108a

obv.. IMP CAES C VIBIVS TREBONIANVS GALLVS AVG  Laureate draped cuirassed bust right

rev. FELICITAS PVBLICA SC  Felicitas stg. l., holding cadaceus and transverse sceptre, leaning on column.

As

rev. FELICITAS PVBLICA SC  Felicitas stg. l., holding cadaceus and transverse sceptre, leaning on column.

This coin from "Collection E P Nicolas", Paris, 9-10 mars 1982, Drouot, estimate 3800 FF, sold 4600 FF

Cohen correctly did not list this type as having a peacock next to Juno.  RIC incorrectly states "Cohen omits peacock in error".  The peacock is only found on the tetrastyle temple types

Juno Martialis is found exclusively on the coins of Gallus.  Juno is the wife of Jupiter and Martialis mean "of Mars".  This could then mean "to the warlike Juno" since Mars is the god of war (and Juno's son) and it has been conjectured that it is an appeal to Juno (who was worshipped as a goddess of healing in addition to other attributes) to fight the terrible plague that ravaged the empire.  (continued below)

20.07g (no peacock)

As

I've seen the BM coin that RIC describes as - "two small children"; this seems like artistic license used on what the rest of us would call urns.

  (continued from RIC 110a var above) Others believe that the "Of Mars" refers to "of the month of March".  Juno Martialis had a festival on March 7, and Juno Martialis may be identified with Juno Perusina of Perugia, Italy - Trebonianus' home town that received special favors from him.  A third theory is that as goddess of fertility, "Juno Martialis" is just referring to Juno as being the mother of Mars.  The fourth theory is that these coins are in honor of his wife, Baebiana, who had not been elevated to Augusta in favor of allowing Herennia Etruscilla to retain her title.

Ex:  Frank L. Kovacs, San Francisco lot viewing – June 6, 1999 (ZEJH)

 RIC incorrectly states that this variation doesn't exist

Liberalitus: Initially the personification of generosity, it came to specifically mean the spirit of the emperor's donative to the soldiers. 

21.0 grams

A very rare bust type.  I have seen a total of five of these on coins of Gallus and Volusian, all different reverses.  I think the obverse die was made for medallions.

As

Libertas:  The spirit of Liberty.

Pileus: Skullcap (note that early American personifications of liberty often had the "Liberty Cap" too).

unlisted

rev. MARTI PACIFERO

115a

rev. PAX AVGG  Pax stg l., raising palm branch and holding transverse sceptre

115a var

rev. PAX AVGG  Pax stg l., raising palm branch and holding transverse sceptre

115a

var

rev. PAX AVGG  Pax stg l., lowering palm branch and holding transverse sceptre

As

rev. PAX AVGG  Pax stg l., raising palm branch and holding transverse sceptre

Pietas:  The personification of Duty, she had a festival on December 1.

As

rev. PIETAS AVGG SC  Pietas veiled, stg. l., raising both hands.

Dp

Same as above but with altar.  Both Trebonianus Gallus and Trajan Decius get a lot of extra RIC numbers from moving this podium on and off stage.  34mm (unusually large flan)

As

The mint took a great care in making the few middle bronzes that were struck.  These coins are almost always round, centered, and with an attractive, good-relief portrait.  Sestertii were not struck with the same consistent quality.

top coin: one of the nices middle bronzes I have seen of this period.  Thanks to my friend RB for helping me to get it!

bottom coin 9.7 grams

As

RIC has a footnote questioning the existence of this type and stating that the design is unusual for Trebonianus.  The type is hardly rare in bronze but very rare in silver.  Most of Gallus early coin designs are common in one metal, but very rare in the other.  VOTIS DECENNALIBVS, LIBERALITAS, and ROMAE AETERNAE are common in bronze but very rare in silver.  MARTI PACIFERO and PROVIDENTIA are fairly common in silver but extremely rare in bronze.

Dupondius

Salus, goddess of Health and preservation.  She feeds a sacred snake from a patera (a shallow circular vessel used for drinking or for pouring libations). Medallic flan: 34mm,  21.95g.   I have seen only a handful of Gallus sestertii on this sort of flan - they were quite possibly presentation pieces.

As

This comes from Trebonianus' first issue.  First coin has a perfect untouched patina.

As

As

A rare early type having the interesting "AVGVS" instead of AVGG.  Could this be a special issue after the death of Hostilian but before Volusian was elevated to Augustus?  I asked Curtis Clay of HJB and he explained that AVGVS is ambiguous as to the number of augustii, since it could mean either AVGVStorum (singular) or AVGVStii (multiple).  Furthermore, since sestertii of Hostilian as Augustus were issued with the same SALVS reverse, it is unlikely this coin started after his death.

unlisted

There is one of these in the Glasgow Hunter Coin Cabinet (plate 84, no.45).  It is a mule with reverse of Hostilian AVG.

This reverse is usual for Hostilian (as Augustus). 

RIC incorrectly reports the reverse as AVG (vice AVGG). 

Very unusual in that it shows Victory advancing left instead of standing, and the reverse legend ends in 'AVG'.  I have only seen one other of these (in ARSANTIQVA 2003). The portrait looks very much like Aemilian.

This coin is not only beautiful; it is a whopping 26.93 grams.  It's the biggest coin of Trebonianus I have but I have seen pictures of a few heavier coins, including a 29 gram sestertius of Gallus.

 unlisted

Obverse struck with a medallion die.  There was a die match (obverse and reverse) of this coin in an old cgb.fr sale.

As

As

Dp

Extremely rare denomination for this emperor.  11.1g.  Many thanks to my friend Rafaelle for finding this coin.   

 I bought this cast and patinated Gallus sestertius on eBay.  It was sold as a copy, but I have seen identical examples sold as genuine.