Bronze Coins of Volusian

There are 26 different reverse types for the bronze coins of Trebonianus and Volusian (of course the number changes depending on whether you call certain variants a separate type or just a sub variation).  One type seems normal to both emperors: IVNONI MARTIALI with temple (both distyle and tetrastyle types).   The remaining 25 types seem to be either normal for just Trebonianus or just Volusian.  A reverse type that is normal for Trebonianus is usually very rare for Volusian and vice versa.  RIC's rarity ratings are all wrong for bronze coins of this period.  I have a large database of the bronze coins of Trebonianus' reign. I have seen more than 100 Volusian sestertii RIC-251a FELICITAS PVBLICA , listed as Scarce, but I've only ever seen a couple Trebonianus sestertii with the same reverse (RIC-108), yet it is also listed as scarce.

 

RIC/Cohen

Obverse/Reverse

Notes

Obverse Photo

Reverse Photo

Volusian as Caesar

240 / 76

As

 obv. C VIBIO VOLVSIANO CAES  draped cuirassed bare bust right

 
PAX AVGG SC Pax stg. l., holding branch and transverse sceptre

 
241 / 103 obv. C VIBIO VOLVSIANO CAES  draped cuirassed bare bust right bare headed bust

This coin comes from a very short period of history, perhaps only a few weeks.  Gallus placed Volusian at a lower rank than the (probably) younger son of his predecessor -(this coin shows traces of a beard and the portrait looks more mature than those of Hostilian as AVG).  No emperor's son had ever been placed in this position.

Extremely Rare (only one sold in a major auction in last 10 years)
PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS SC  Volusian stg. l., holding wand and spear.

 
242 / - obv. C VIBIO VOLVSIANO CAES  draped cuirassed bare bust right I have never seen even a picture of one of these.  One recorded:  Schulman Sale 1915, lot 997.  I am usually a little suspect about these old catalogs.  I would be grateful if someone could confirm this coin.

 
PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS SC  Volusian stg. l., holding globe and sceptre.

 
unlisted obv. C VIBIO VOLVSIANO CAES  draped cuirassed bare bust right   Unlisted and the only example I know of.  Same reverse die as the example of RIC 264 below and a another Gallus sestertius I have seen.   16.99g
VOTIS DECENNALIBVS SC in laurel wreath

 
243 / 141

As

 obv. C VIBIO VOLVSIANO CAES  draped cuirassed bare bust right  
VOTIS DECENNALIBVS SC in laurel wreath

 

Volusian as Augustus

244 / 97

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

Volusian in the last year of his life.  One of the two types of dated (AD253) sestertii of Volusian.  (see the first Trebonianus coin for an explanation of the dating for these coins).

Top coin 22.4 grams

rev.PM TRP IIII COS IIPP  Volusian stg. l., holding branch and transverse scepter.
245 / 96

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

Reverse proper to Gallus
rev. P M TR P IIII COS II P P SC   Trebonianus stg. l. sacrificing over lighted tripod and holding short sceptre.

246 / 9

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

19.3 grams.

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

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

There is one of these in the ANS collection
AETERNITAS AVGG SC  Aeternitias stg. l., holding phoenix on globe and raising skirt

247 / -

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

 David Sear wrote an article on this reverse type.  "Apollo Salutari" means "to Apollo the healer."  No other emperor (other than Gallus, including his son Volusian) issued this type of personification of Apollo, and it is believed to be a reference to the terrible plague of 251-252 AD.

rev. APOLL SALVTARI SC  Apollo stg. l., holding branch, resting l. hand on lyre set on a rock.

248a / 15

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

  

rev. APOLLO SALVTARI SC  Apollo stg. l., holding branch, resting l. hand on lyre set on a rock.

248b / 16

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

 Gallus was very particular in marking his issues different from those of Volusian.  The bronzes of Volusian use "APOLLO" while those of Gallus use "APOLL".  Mules exist, but they are rare.  10.6 grams

rev. APOLLO SALVTARI SC  Apollo stg. l., holding branch, resting l. hand on lyre set on a rock.

249a / 21

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

  

CONCORDIA AVGG SC  Concordia stg. l., holding patera and double cornucopiae.

249 var

unlisted

obv. IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG  Laureate draped cuirassed bust right, right shoulder back

 Unlisted bust type.  Obverse uses medallion dies.

CONCORDIA AVGG SC  Concordia stg. l., holding patera and double cornucopiae.

249b / 22

As

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

  

CONCORDIA AVGG SC  Concordia stg. l., holding patera and double cornucopiae.

249c / 23

Dp

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

  

CONCORDIA AVGG SC  Concordia stg. l., holding patera and double cornucopiae.

250a / 26

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

 The Berlin collection has a specimen with a single cornucopiae

rev. CONCORDIA AVGG SC  Concordia std. l., holding patera and double cornucopiae

250b / 27

As

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

  

rev. CONCORDIA AVGG SC  Concordia std. l., holding patera and double cornucopiae

unlisted

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

 Mule of a Gallus sestertius which itself is even very rare.  The only one I have ever seen.

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

251a / 35

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

  

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

251a var

unlisted

obv. IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG  Laureate draped cuirassed bust right - right shoulder back

 Very rare bust type normally reserved for medallions. 

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

251b / 36

As

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

  

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

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

 

Reverse proper to Gallus.  This is the second one I have seen.

 
IVNONI MARTIALI SC Juno std. l., holding corn ears and globe.

252a / 41

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

  

rev. IVNONI MARTIALI SC  Juno seated front in round tetrastyle temple, at her side peacock.

252a  var/ 41 var

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

 Urns on either side of Juno.  This may be what RIC 109 (Gallus sestertius with same reverse) calls "two small figures.

rev. IVNONI MARTIALI SC  Juno seated front in round tetrastyle temple, at her side peacock, urns on either side.

252b / 42

As

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

  

rev. IVNONI MARTIALI SC  Juno seated front in round tetrastyle temple, at her side peacock.

253a / 46

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

 (Giessner Munzenhandlung Auction 95, lot 929, March 1999)

ev. IVNONI MARTIALI SC  Juno seated front in round distyle temple, at her side peacock.

253b / -

As

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

  

rev. IVNONI MARTIALI SC  Juno seated front in round distyle temple, at her side peacock.
254a / 50

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

  
LIBERALITAS AVGG  Liberalitas stg. l., holding abacus and cornucopiae
254a / 51

As

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

  
LIBERALITAS AVGG  Liberalitas stg. l., holding abacus and cornucopiae
255a / - obv. IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG  Laureate draped cuirassed bust right Reverse proper to Gallus
LIBERTAS AVGG SC  Libertas stg. l., holding pileus and sceptre.
255b / 53

As

 obv. IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG  Laureate draped cuirassed bust right  
LIBERTAS AVGG SC  Libertas stg. l., holding pileus and sceptre.
256a / 74 obv. IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG  Laureate draped cuirassed bust right The most common type of Volusian sestertius
rev. PAX AVGG  Pax stg l., holping palm branch and transverse sceptre
256b / 75

As

 obv. IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG  Laureate draped cuirassed bust right  
rev. PAX AVGG  Pax stg l., holping palm branch and transverse sceptre
256c / -

Dp

 obv. IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG  Radiate draped cuirassed bust right An extremely rare denomination for this emperor.  8.45 grams
rev. PAX AVGG  Pax stg l., holping palm branch and transverse sceptre
257 / 87 obv. IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG  Radiate draped cuirassed bust right Reverse proper to Gallus
PIETAS AVGG SC  Pietas veiled, stg. l., raising both hands.
unlisted obv. IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG  Radiate draped cuirassed bust right  Reverse proper to Gallus.  Very rare.

22.09 grams
PIETAS AVGG SC  Pietas veiled, stg. l., raising both hands. Alter at l.
258a / 89

As

 obv. IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG  Radiate draped cuirassed bust right  Reverse proper to Gallus
PIETAS AVGG SC  Pietas veiled, stg. l., raising both hands. Alter at l.
258b / -

Dp

 obv. IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG  Radiate draped cuirassed bust right  
PIETAS AVGG SC  Pietas veiled, stg. l., raising both hands. Alter at l.
259 / 102 obv. IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG  Laureate draped cuirassed bust right  
PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS SC  Volusian stg. l., holding want and spear.

 

260a / 120

 

 obv. IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG  Laureate draped cuirassed bust right Reverse proper to Gallus.
SALVS AVGG SC  Salus stg. r., holding snake in arms.
261 / 121 obv. IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG  Laureate draped cuirassed bust right

Reverse proper to Gallus and Hostilian, from the first issue. 

SECVRITAS AVGG SC  Securitas stg. r., legs crossed, placing r. hand on head and leaning on column.
262 / 132 obv. IMP CAES C VIBIVS TREBONIANVS GALLVS AVG  Laureate draped cuirassed bust right

Reverse proper to Gallus.  RIC incorrectly lists this coin as Scarce, but in fact it is very rare.  Thiese are the only two I have seen; even the British Museum doesn't have one. 
rev. VICTORIA AVGG SC  Victory stg. l., holding wreath and palm. 

263a / 136

 

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

 
VITVS AVGG SC Virtus stg. l., leaning on shield and holding spear

263b / 137

As

 

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

 
VITVS AVGG SC Virtus stg. l., leaning on shield and holding spear
264 / 140 obv. IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG  Laureate draped cuirassed bust right

 
VOTIS DECENNALIBVS SC  in laurel wreath.

Return to Four Bad Years