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Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus (206? – 253 AD) was born of an Etruscan family of the senatorial class. He forged a traditional Roman political career, holding various posts such as senator and consul. By 251 AD, Gallus served under Augustus Trajan Decius as governor of the Moesia province. The talented leader had some notable successes in defending his territory, for example repelling the forces of pesky Gothic King Cniva on the northern Danube. The Goths then moved their raids to the southern Danube, where Augusts Decius and his forces had arrived at the scene. Cniva sprang an ambush and managed to kill the Augustus and his older son.
Gallus’ legions took the opportunity, not surprisingly, to declare their leader as the new Augustus. There was a slight complication — Decius' younger son and rightful heir, Hostilan, still lived back in Rome. Gallus’ solution was appointing Hostilian as co-Augustus. Gallus also strengthened his position by naming his son, Volusian, as Caesar. Before heading returning to Rome to solidify his position, Gallus negotiated a treaty with Cniva, allowing the Goths to keep the loot they had had already plundered and promised even more as an annual bribe.
Gallus arrived in a capital that was suffering from a horrible plague. Every day the death toll steadily increased. Soon, even co-Augustus Hostilian perished. Gallus and (newly promoted co-Augustus) Volusian gave the situation their full attention, providing for proper burials, even for those too poor to afford it. These sympathetic actions were well received by the Roman people.
However, the co-Augusti’s lack of attention towards other matters, particularly on the foreign front, was not appreciated. In 252 AD, the eastern frontier came under attack by King Shapur and his Persian armies. Within a year, Shapur managed to defeat the local Roman forces and control most of Syria, including the capital of Antioch. The loss of Antioch was a tough blow, especially since it was an important eastern mint.
This coin, a billon tetradrachm, was struck in Antioch sometime before Shapurs’ occupation, probably in 251 AD. The style is unmistakable: a laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust on the obverse, and an eagle on the verso, with wings spread and wreath proudly held aloft in its beak. The numismatic motif of the eagle and wreath, dating back to at least the Roman Republic, serves to glorify its subject, in this case, Gallus. According to one interpretation, the majestic eagle is tasked with delivering souls to its master, the sun, and the wreath is proof of victorious liberation. Also on the verso, in exergue, the letter Z refers to the coin’s specific officina, and the letters S C stand for
senatus consulto, “with the Senate’s permission.”
Shapur didn’t ask for permission as he advanced his forces further, threatening additional Roman population centers in the east. Adding to the more of Rome’s eastern territories. In addition to the Persian incursion on the eastern front, the Roman Empire was also once again under attack along the Danube. Gallus’ replacement as Moesian governor, Aemilianus, repudiated the bribes promised to Kniva, and the disappointed Goths renewed their raiding across the Danube. This time, the governor and his legions were ready, and kept the Goths contained. Afterwards, the legions, pleased with these developments (e.g., funds earmarked for Kniva were now available to them), elevated their governor to Augustus. Aemilianus accepted the promotion and marched off to Rome with a large and battle-savvy contingency.
Realizing their peril, Gallus and Volusian mustered the local forces that were — for the moment — still loyal to Rome's rightful rulers and headed north to meet the oncoming rival Augustus. Their pace was slow as they awaited reinforcements – who never arrived. It was a rather demoralizing situation, especially since Gallus' forces were already disappointed to be finally mobilized, but not in defense Rome's borders; instead, they were being asked to fight their fellow formidable Romans. Following a disturbingly familiar trend, the disaffected soldiers took matters into their own hands and Gallus' reign came to an end.
Coin Details: SYRIA, ANTIOCH, Trebonianus Gallus, AD 251-253, Billon Tetradrachm (27mm, 13.08 g, 6h), 7th officina, struck AD 251, NGC Grade: Ch MS★, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5, Obverse: Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, AVTOK K Γ OYIB TPEB ΓAΛΛOC CEB, Reverse: Eagle standing left, head right, holding wreath in beak, with wings spread, ΔHMAPX EΞOVCIAC VΠATO B, with SC and Z in exergue, References: Prieur 669; McAlee 1173g.
Image: Sony ɑ 7R Ⅴ camera / Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS lens.