{"product_id":"hostilian-billon-tetradrachm-antioch-ad-251","title":"Hostilian Billon Tetradrachm — Antioch, AD 251","description":"\u003ch1\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHostilian Billon Tetradrachm of Antioch — The Boy Emperor Who Survived His Family but Not the Plague\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003ch2\u003eOwn a Billon Coin from the Boy Emperor Who Survived the Battle That Killed His Father and Brother—Then Died Months Later\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA genuine \u003cstrong\u003ebillon tetradrachm of Hostilian\u003c\/strong\u003e, struck at \u003cstrong\u003eAntioch\u003c\/strong\u003e in \u003cstrong\u003eAD 251\u003c\/strong\u003e, during one of the darkest years in Roman history. After his father, Emperor Trajan Decius, and his brother Herennius Etruscus were both killed in battle, Hostilian briefly became emperor before dying only months later, traditionally associated with the epidemic then sweeping the Roman world.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e✓ Guaranteed Authentic\u003cbr\u003e✓ Carefully Sourced and Verified\u003cbr\u003e✓ 30-Day Returns\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e📷 You will receive the exact coin pictured.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e🦅 Features an eagle standing on a palm branch holding a victory wreath—an enduring symbol of Roman imperial authority\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e🏛 Struck at Antioch during the Crisis of the Third Century\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e🤲 A substantial billon tetradrachm weighing approximately 12.6 grams\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003ch1\u003eOwn This Piece of History\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhy This Coin Matters\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFew years in Roman history were as disastrous as \u003cstrong\u003eAD 251\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDuring the \u003cstrong\u003eBattle of Abritus\u003c\/strong\u003e, Emperor \u003cstrong\u003eTrajan Decius\u003c\/strong\u003e and his eldest son and co-emperor, \u003cstrong\u003eHerennius Etruscus\u003c\/strong\u003e, were both killed while fighting Gothic forces. It marked the first time a reigning Roman emperor had fallen in battle against a foreign enemy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHostilian, Decius’s younger son, had remained away from the campaign. Following the catastrophe, he was recognized as \u003cstrong\u003eAugustus\u003c\/strong\u003e alongside Trebonianus Gallus during one of the most uncertain moments the Roman Empire had faced.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis reign proved tragically brief.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA devastating epidemic was sweeping the Roman world, and Hostilian died later in \u003cstrong\u003eAD 251\u003c\/strong\u003e. Ancient tradition attributes his death to the plague, although the surviving evidence does not allow absolute certainty about the cause.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis authentic billon tetradrachm was struck at \u003cstrong\u003eAntioch\u003c\/strong\u003e, one of the Roman Empire’s most important eastern cities and a major mint for provincial tetradrachms in the Roman East. These large silver-alloy coins served commerce throughout the eastern provinces.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe reverse depicts an \u003cstrong\u003eeagle standing upon a palm branch while holding a victory wreath\u003c\/strong\u003e, imagery associated with Roman authority and victory. On Hostilian’s coinage, the triumphant symbolism stands in striking contrast to the military disaster, epidemic, and political instability surrounding his brief reign.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWeighing approximately \u003cstrong\u003e12.6 grams\u003c\/strong\u003e, this substantial provincial coin survives from one of the defining years of the \u003cstrong\u003eCrisis of the Third Century\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePerfect For\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCollectors of Roman provincial coinage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCrisis of the Third Century enthusiasts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCollectors of Antioch mint coinage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStudents of Roman military and imperial history\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnyone looking for a rare and historically significant ancient coin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003ch1\u003eWhat You’ll Receive\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe exact Hostilian billon tetradrachm pictured\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCivilization:\u003c\/strong\u003e Roman Empire\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEmperor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hostilian (AD 251)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCentury:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3rd Century AD\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMint:\u003c\/strong\u003e Antioch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDenomination:\u003c\/strong\u003e Billon Tetradrachm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approximately 12.6 grams\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGuaranteed authentic\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003ch1\u003eContinue the Story\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Crisis of the Third Century produced some of Rome’s most fascinating rulers and coinage. Each coin tells the story of an empire struggling to survive invasion, epidemic disease, economic pressure, and political upheaval.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExplore our other Roman coins to discover the emperors, battles, and turning points that shaped the ancient world.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003ch1\u003eBuy with Confidence\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGuaranteed authentic ancient coin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCarefully sourced and verified\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e30-day return policy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSecure shipping from the U.S.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003ch1\u003eNew to Ancient Coins?\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003cp\u003eStart your journey here:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ekinzercoins.com\/collections\/im-new-to-ancient-coins\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003ch2\u003eLearn More\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/kinzer-coins-journal\/collecting-the-coins-of-trajan-decius-ad-249-251-the-emperor-who-tried-to-restore-old-rome\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0970\/6202\/7570\/articles\/trajan-decius-antoninianus-featured-refresh_918806b2-4fe3-4da8-b5ed-c818b95908b1.png?v=1788769466\" alt=\"Collecting the Coins of Trajan Decius AD 249–251 · The Emperor Who Tried to Restore Old Rome\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eContinue the story in the Kinzer Coins Journal: \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/kinzer-coins-journal\/collecting-the-coins-of-trajan-decius-ad-249-251-the-emperor-who-tried-to-restore-old-rome\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCollecting the Coins of Trajan Decius AD 249–251 · The Emperor Who Tried to Restore Old Rome\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kinzer Coins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50904364319026,"sku":"SQ8053447","price":325.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0970\/6202\/7570\/files\/roman-provincial-billon-tetradrachm-large-silver-alloy-coin-of-emperor-hostilian-about-1770-years-ago-7541203.webp?v=1771883597","url":"https:\/\/kinzercoins.com\/products\/hostilian-billon-tetradrachm-antioch-ad-251","provider":"Kinzer Coins","version":"1.0","type":"link"}