Owner Comments:
This coin represents one of several in this collection from the remarkable Bridgnorth Hoard (for more information, see the comments under Poemenius’s centenionalis). The obverse of this particular coin depicts Flavius Magnus Decentius (died 353 AD) as Caesar, serving under his brother, Magnentius — who was either the legitimate Augustus of the West or a usurper, depending entirely on one's political bias. Magnentius had risen to power in 350 AD after the assassination of the previous Western Augustus, Constans.
This centenionalis was struck in Ambianum (modern-day Amiens, France) following Decentius’s appointment as Caesar and his subsequent assignment to defend Gaul. The region was under intense pressure from Germanic tribes, who had been deliberately roused by Constantius II, the Augustus of the Empire’s Eastern territories, to distract the brothers' armies. Constantius II violently refused to accept the situation in the West. In response, Magnentius and Decentius attempted to force reconciliation and heavily employed their coinage as propaganda to promote the legitimacy of their cause.
The reverse of this coin is a clear example of this messaging. It depicts two Victories facing one another, jointly holding a single wreath. The design is a clever adaptation of a motif widely employed by Constantius II and Constans, where each Victory traditionally held her own wreath. On this current coin, having the two Victories hold the exact same wreath might be interpreted as a symbol of unity — either between the East and West, between Magnentius and Decentius, or between the leaders and their military. Inscribed inside the wreath is the epithet VOT V MVLT X, implying that five years of imperial vows have been paid, with ten more years of service to follow. Above the wreath floats a prominent Chi-Rho, an explicit Christian symbol utilized by the brothers to appeal to the religious sentiments of the public and legitimize their rule against Constantius II.
Historically, the optimistic timing of the vows does not add up. Decentius would not manage to complete even five — never mind ten — years of service as Caesar. After suffering crushing military defeats and retreating until his realm was limited solely to Gaul and perhaps Britannia, Magnentius finally accepted defeat and fell on his own sword in 353 AD. Just days later, upon receiving the news of his brother's demise, Decentius joined him in suicide.
Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Decentius, 350-353 AD, AE2 (Billon centenionalis) (4.576 g), Ambianum (Amiens) mint. NGC Grade: MS, Surface: 4/5, Strike: 5/5. Obverse: Bareheaded, cuirassed bust right, D N DECENTIVS NOB CAES. Reverse: Two Victories standing facing each other, holding between them a wreath inscribed VOT V MVLT X, Chi-Rho symbol above wreath, star AMB dot in crescent in exergue, VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAE. Reference: RIC VIII Amiens 32.
Image: Sony ɑ 7R Ⅴ camera / Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS lens.