Ancient Coins: Emperor Decius

Trajan Decius COULD have been a great Roman Emperor, but he wasnt. What happened to him, and why did he have such a short reign? Lets try to find out by looking at his coins.
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[@ClassicalNumismatics]

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[@skuul666]

I have a nice addition to this excellent overview: during the late reign of Decius (~251 AD) the mint experimented with overstriking old denarii (usually from Severan dynasty) with antoninianus dies. When done correctly, it is very hard to detect the overstriking. However, usually the low weight (typically < 3.0 g, whereas 3.5 - 4.5 is expected) can be a clue. More dramatically, when not correctly overstruck, the old design of the denarius (usually a couple of letters) is still visible in the new coin. Overstruck specimens are known for the whole Decius family, as well as the Divi series and some early Gallus coins. With continuing debasement, the experiment ultimately failed, as new antoniniani were struck containing even less silver than the old denarius. The overstrikes are quite rare, however i have two examples from Hostilian and Herennia Etruscilla.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

This is fascinating! I think I saw a post on Cointalk showing an overstruck Antoninianus of Decius. Now I'll definitely pay attention to any coins with signs of overstriking.

[@wertinas]

A very good, detailed video! One of my first third century coins was an Antoninianus of Herrenius Etruscus, ever since then I have been absolutely fascinated by the period with all its emperors and usurpers

[@rolandnyc4938]

I have one of each of the four. No commemorative yet. I can't express my gratitude for all your work but I can espresso it! Ty.😊

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Thank you very much for the support! ❤

[@paulfly3121]

Very nice overview of the history of Decius' reign. I have coins of all four, Decius, his wife and both sons. I do not have any examples of the Consecratio series. Frankly I didn't even realize it was soon extensive! Maybe a new sub-collection in my future there!

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Its a beautiful series! Shame that some of the Emperors in the divi series can be quite expensive. At first I thought about making a 5 good emperors set in Antoninianii, but abandoned the idea when I saw the prices for some of these.

[@mojavegold-]

Thank you for your informative post. I've only just started including Roman silver coins in my collection the past 5 years or so, and am mainly concentrating on first and second century coins. The outliers include a handful of Mark Antony Legionarys, and some Decius "Divi Series" commemoratives I actually bought by mistake. I'm still very happy to have every Roman coin I collected. My only bronze and (maybe some billon?) coins are from a largish batch of uncleaned Romans I bought to try restoring. My first few were a disaster - I'm pleased with how many of the later ones have turned out. Extreme patience when cleaning them is essential.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Cleaning ancient coins is an art, indeed! I wish I had the patience to do it myself, but alas, I dont. If you would like to see some excellent coin cleaning content, check out "Ad Memeoriam"

[@christopherevans2445]

Another good video. Yes I have a few of Decius coins, including a tetradrachm from the Antioch mint. I always liked the realistic busts most of his coins have

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

The Tetradrachm of Antioch is an impressive and big coin, nice catch!

[@christopherevans2445]

@@ClassicalNumismatics also one of the last of the tetradrachms of Antioch, as there would be only a few after him of Treb. Gallus. After the sack by the Sassanids of Antioch there seems to have been a change to the Anto. And Ae denominations only

[@christopherevans2445]

Rewatching this video I realized I have the republican coin too. Thanks for showing the family connection there

[@markp44288]

Got everyone we talked about except Hostilian! Great video.

[@donklaser217]

I have coins of Decius and both of his sons. Very informative video - thanks!!

[@yarnmisery]

i have a coin similar to the first antoninianus you showed, its ric 23

[@darbysdownhomedetecting]

Great episode

[@whitefriarnerd]

Very concise, lot of information packed into 18 minutes. I like Decius, seems well intentioned and competent as Emperors go, notwithstanding the potential poor leadership during the Battle of Abritus (not necessarily all his fault either). I own two coins of his, sestertii in gVF, DACIA and PANNONIAE reverses. Also have a pair of EF antoninianii of Herennia, I'll complete the family some day.

[@OneMinuteKnifeReview]

i enjoyed the history, Thank you

[@user-wx3lc2sn6i]

Thanks Leo always brilliant 👍

[@gaineyjohnson6628]

Another excellent video! Everytime I watch, you teach something new and often fascinating. On the Dacia standard, was it a chinese bell? Great work!

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Haha, it does look like a chinese bell, indeed! The decorations put on standards were called Phalerae

[@bratrcunik4571]

I lack the Hostilian coin to have the full Imperial Family.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Patience is key, he does come up every now and then at auction.

[@caracallaavg]

Great video, Leo! I think the inclusion of Alexander and Comodus might be partially explained by the abundance of their coins in circulation

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

It could be the case, indeed. We know that Severan coins circulated during Deciu's reign because there are plenty of instances of Antoninianii restruck over old denarii

[@fificrossnails]

I have one each of all of these, including Hostilian which has the reverse showing him on horseback with ADVENTVS AVG

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Thats cool! Is the Hostilian issue from him as Augustus or Caesar?

[@fificrossnails]

@@ClassicalNumismatics I believe it’s as Caesar

[@Chaika1974]

Leo, do you have any plans on covering Late Roman coins? It seems there's barely any from Honorius until Odoacer. It's a very under appreciated time

[@coincollector1580]

Nice video, as a beginner I don't have any coins from him. But I also would like to ask you something. I have a heavily corroded Antoninianus from Claudius II Gothicus which also might have bronze disease. I would like to clean it, but I don't know how. Should I even do it? I can also send a photo if you're not quite sure. Thank you so much :)

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Im not very knowledgeable on coin cleaning and removing bronze disease. Look up a channel called "Ad Memeoriam" he should be able to help

[@coincollector1580]

@@ClassicalNumismatics Thank you :)

[@stamasd8500]

I have had limited success with bronze disease by soaking coins in a sodium sesquicarbonate solution (equal mix of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate) for several months, with gentle scrubbing every week or two with a toothbrush then soaking again. After several months I switched to soaking in distilled water, changing the water again every week or two. I've had the affected coins in that soak for almost 2 years now, and the disease progress seems to have stopped. Other methods I tried, like a solution of disodium EDTA have resulted in marked stripping of the patina in addition to stopping the disease, so that may not be something you want to use unless it's a really advanced case of bronze disease.

[@coincollector1580]

@@stamasd8500 Thank you as well

[@thesecondsilvereich7828]

Do you think 600£ for a gold solidus is worth it byzantine

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

For the common type, more than enough. You might get it for less.

[@thesecondsilvereich7828]

@@ClassicalNumismatics thanks

[@klausbiegerfac.cs.naturale1392]

Imperial coins of Herrenius Etruscillus are quite scarce and relatively expensive. A more affordable alternative to complete the familiy can b provincial coins, especially bronces of Vinminiacium that seem somewhat more abundant.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

I've seen coins of Herennius pop up more and more in the last few years. To a point that they are nearly comparable in price to pieces of his mother!

[@hasashoepugower1691]

I read that he made a double sesteius abit bigger than normal sestuius which was smaller anyway but would be interesting to see one Sorry for the misspelling I don’t know the correct spelling of the coin lol

[@stamasd8500]

On that coin of Hostilian I see a spot of the so-called "bronze disease" next to the chin of the portrait. You may want to have that coin treated to avoid further degradation. Yes, bronze disease can affect silver coins especially ones with a high content of copper like those from that period.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Thanks for the heads up, this spot has been looked at already. The accretions in the area are hard and are most likely just a cupric encrustation