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For many Roman Empresses, particularly those of the 3rd century AD, very little of their life was ever recorded. Fortunately, at least coins have survived to provide some historical details. Such is the case regarding Herennia Etruscilla, wife of Augustus Trajan Decius. Although her exact background is unknown, she likely hailed from Etruscan lineage based on coin inscriptions and other sources. Also based on coinage, it appears that she was elevated to Augusta immediately upon her husband Decius' ascension in 249 AD.
This double-denarius bearing Herennia's name was struck in Rome sometime in early 251 AD. On the obverse, Herennia’s draped bust perches atop a crescent. The latter represents the moon and complements the radiate sun crown worn by the Augustus on his coinage. Her bust also dons a stephane, a type of decorative wreath worn on the head. On the verso stands Fecunditas, the Roman goddess of fertility, holding a cornucopia in one hand and extending the other above a child, who looks up towards her with outstretched arms.
Commensurate with the coin’s imagery, Herennia bore Decius two sons. The eldest, Herennius Etruscus, was named co-Augustus in early 251 AD. Herennius campaigned with his father against the Goths threatening the Moesian and Dacian provinces. Meanwhile, Herennia stayed in Rome with her younger son, Hostilian, and they looked after Rome's routine governance.
Tragically, both co-Augusti died in mid 251 AD while battling the Goths along the Danube frontier. Subsequently two new Augusti were declared, although these declarations were not coordinated. At the front, the troops promoted Trebonianus Gallus, while back in Rome the Senate confirmed the decreased Decius' younger son, Hostilian. To avoid adding civil war to the already very long list of the Empire's troubles, it was agreed that Gallus and Hostillian would share Rome's throne. So well-respected was Herennia that she was allowed to retain the title of Augusta; Gallus even refrained from promoting his own wife to the role.
Later that same year Hostilian died, likely a victim of the plague ravaging across the Empire. Herennia survived the epidemic and retained her role as Augusta, despite not holding any familial ties to Gallus. We know this because coins were still struck naming her Augusta until 253 AD, corresponding to the end of Gallus’ reign.
Here is where the trail of information regarding Herennia abruptly comes to an end, a poignant reminder of the role ancient coins serve as historical records.
Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Herennia Etruscilla, 249-251 AD, AR Double-Denarius, Rome mint, 6th officina, 5th emission of Trajan Decius, early AD 251, NGC Grade: Ch AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5, Obverse: Draped bust right, wearing stephane, set on crescent, HER ETRVSCILLA AVG, Reverse: Fecunditas standing left, holding cornucopia and extending hand over child standing right with hands raised, FECVNDITAS AVG, References: RIC IV 55b (Trajan Decius); RSC 8.
Image: Sony ɑ 7R Ⅴ camera / Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS lens.