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Traian Decius

In the end the regime of Philip was very troublesum. In the east Iotapian revolted against Philips brother Julius Priscus and closer to home the armies in Moesia Superior and probably also in Dacia revolted against Philips brother in law Severianus. In Moesia Superior the usurper Pacatian held the power for a short while. When Decius was sent over there to restore the discipline the aerea turned out to be a wasps nest. Soon after he arrived on the Danube frontier the soldiers proclaimed him emperor. However it looks like his elevation was not approved by all the legions stationed at the Danube frontier. When Decius went on his way to Rome to confront Philip a certain Censorinus had to struck down a revolt at Viminacium. A part of the army over there refused to strip the ornaments of the 'hostes publici', public enemies, from their legionary standards. These 'hostes publici' must have been Philip and his son Philip II. After the victory over Philip Decius must have faught a war in Dacia and along the Danube. He clearly understood that this region was a breeding ground of disgruntled legions and had to satisfy and calm down the soldiers by means of military successes and attention for the region. On an inscription found at Apulum (Dacia) Decius is called restitutor Daciarum, restorer of Dacia, and he accepted the title Dacicus Maximus, the greatest conqueror of the Dacians. On his coins he paid hommage to the provinces of Pannonia and Dacia and to the genius of the legions of Ilyricum. In a battle against the Goths near Abritus he eventually lost his life together with his son Herennius Etruscus. Look for more information about the reign of Decius at Viminacium.

The mint of Dacia did not strike as many coins in the name of Decius and his family as did the mint of Viminacium. The peak of the coinage in the province of Dacia lay in the reign of the emperor Philip.

The coins of Traian Decius from Dacia

Denominations struck: sestertius.

On the sestertii the emperor has a portrait with laurel wreath.

Used notations of the local year:

AN IIII, used from august/september 249 until july 250.
AN V, used from july 250 until may/june 251.

Obverse text variations used:

A: IMP TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG
B: IMP TRAIANVS DECIOS AVG

Reverse text variations used:

a: PROVINC - IAD - ACIA
b: PROVIN - C - IA DACIA
c: PROVI - NC - IAD - ACIA


AN IIII
Sestertius ANNO IIII - 249/250 - Pick 36 - Martin 3.51.2 - Varbanov 39
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Weight: 15,19 grams
Diameter: 27 mm

Obverse: Bust of Decius to the right with laurel wreath, part of paludamentum (cloak, cape) visible on the shoulder worn over armoured breast plate. The portrait on this coin still has the looks of his predecessor Philip.

Text: (A:) IMP TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG (IMPERATOR TRAIANVS DECIVS AVGVSTVS) - Emperor Traianus Decius Augustus.

Reverse: Woman (Dacia) to the left with Phrygian cap on her head. On the left side stands an eagle with spreaded wings and a laurel wreath in its beak. On the right a lion walking to the left. In her left hand Dacia is holding a vexilum with the Roman numeral XIII. In the right hand she is holding a Dacian sword together with a vexilum with the Roman numeral V.

Text: (a:) PROVINC - IAD - ACIA - Province Dacia.

Exergue: AN IIII (ANNO IIII) - year 4 (249/250).

Remark: The portrait on this coin still has the looks of Decius predecessor Philip as used on coins of the latters year III.
Sestertius ANNO IIII - 249/250 - Pick 36 - Martin 3.51.2 - Varbanov 39
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Weight: ? grams
Diameter: ? mm

Obverse: Bust of Decius to the right with laurel wreath, part of paludamentum (cloak, cape) visible on the shoulder worn over armoured breast plate. The portrait on this coin still has some of the looks of his predecessor Philip.

Text: (A:) IMP TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG (IMPERATOR TRAIANVS DECIVS AVGVSTVS) - Emperor Traianus Decius Augustus.

Reverse: Woman (Dacia) to the left with Phrygian cap on her head. On the left side stands an eagle with spreaded wings and a laurel wreath in its beak. On the right a lion walking to the left. In her left hand Dacia is holding a vexilum with the Roman numeral XIII. In the right hand she is holding a Dacian sword together with a vexilum with the Roman numeral V.

Text: (c:) PROVI - NC - IAD - ACIA - Province Dacia.

Exergue: AN IIII (ANNO IIII) - year 4 (249/250).

Remark: The portrait on this coin still has some of the looks of Decius predecessor Philip as used on coins of the latters year III.
Sestertius ANNO IIII - 249/250 - Pick 36 var. - Martin 3.51.5 - Varbanov -
Copyright CGB coins France

Weight: 12,89 grams
Diameter: 27 mm

Obverse: Bust of Decius to the right with laurel wreath, part of paludamentum (cloak, cape) visible on the shoulder worn over armoured breast plate. The portrait on this coin still has some of the looks of his predecessor Philip.

Text: (B:) IMP TRAIANVS DECIOS AVG (IMPERATOR TRAIANVS DECIVS AVGVSTVS) - Emperor Traianus Decius Augustus.

Reverse: Woman (Dacia) to the left with Phrygian cap on her head. On the left side stands an eagle with spreaded wings and a laurel wreath in its beak. On the right a lion walking to the left. In her left hand Dacia is holding a vexilum with the Roman numeral XIII. In the right hand she is holding a Dacian sword together with a vexilum with the Roman numeral V.

Text: (c:) PROVI - NC - IAD - ACIA - Province Dacia.

Exergue: AN IIII (ANNO IIII) - year 4 (249/250).

Remark: The portrait on this coin looks a little more like Decius. On the obverse the spelling of his name is wrong, DECIOS in stead of DECIVS.
Sestertius ANNO IIII or V - 249/250 or 250/251 - Pick 38/40 - Martin 3.54/3.56 - Varbanov 37/45
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Weight: 14,10 grams
Diameter: 27 mm

Obverse: Bust of Decius to the right with laurel wreath, part of paludamentum (cloak, cape) visible on the shoulder worn over armoured breast plate. The portrait on this coin still has some of the looks of his predecessor Philip.

Text: (A:) IMP TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG (IMPERATOR TRAIANVS DECIVS AVGVSTVS) - Emperor Traianus Decius Augustus.

Reverse: Woman, probably Pax or Dacia depicted as Pax, to the left. In her left arm she is holding a scepter and in her upright right hand she is holding a branch. On the left side stands an eagle with spreaded wings and a laurel wreath in its beak. On the right a lion walking to the left.

Text: (b:) PROVIN - C - IA DACIA - Province Dacia.

Exergue: AN (ANNO ) - year ().

Remark: A coin type like this with Pax or Dacia depicted as Pax was also struck at Viminacium.

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