Hostilian. 251 AD. Antioch, Roman Empire. Bi-Tetradrachm. 26mm, 12.64g.

$325.00

Type: Syrophoenician Tetradrachm
Date: 251
Mint name / Town: Antioch, Syria, Seleucia and Pieria
Metal: billon
Diameter: 26mm
Orientation dies: 6 h.
Weight: 12.64g.
Rarity: R3
COMMENTS ON THE CONDITION:
Copy on a wide blank perfectly centered on both sides with visible graining. Beautiful bust of a Hostilian with regular wear. Nice reverse served by a dark gray patina with golden metallic reflections
REFERENCES CATALOG:
Prieur 650 (5 ex) - McAlee 1160 d (this ex.)
OBVERSE
Obverse description: Draped bust, bare head of Hostilian right, seen three-quarters forward (A*01), an S under the bust.
Obverse legend: G OUAL OSTILIAN ME KUINTOS KESAR.
Obverse translation: (Caius Valens Hostilianus Messius Quintus Caesar).
REVERSE
Reverse legend: S C AT THE EXERGUE.
Reverse description: Eagle standing left on palm, wings outstretched, head left and tail right, holding wreath in beak.
Reverse legend: DHMARC EX OUSIAS.
Reverse translation: (Entrusted with tribunician power / with the agreement of the Senate of Antioch).
COMMENTARY
In the TSP database maintained by Michel Prieur, eleven examples are now listed for this type, including in Doura/Yale, Paris, Glasgow, ANS, Berlin and Gaziantep museums. This copy is illustrated without the work of Richard McAlee, p. 377, no. 1160d.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Hostilianus
(251)
Son of Trajan Decius - Caesar
Hostilianus, second son of Trajan Decius and Éruscille became Caesar at the end of the year 250, perhaps when his brother Herennius etruscus received the title of Augustus. When Trajan and his eldest son left Rome to fight the Goths and find death Hostilianus remains to Rome with his mother.

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Type: Syrophoenician Tetradrachm
Date: 251
Mint name / Town: Antioch, Syria, Seleucia and Pieria
Metal: billon
Diameter: 26mm
Orientation dies: 6 h.
Weight: 12.64g.
Rarity: R3
COMMENTS ON THE CONDITION:
Copy on a wide blank perfectly centered on both sides with visible graining. Beautiful bust of a Hostilian with regular wear. Nice reverse served by a dark gray patina with golden metallic reflections
REFERENCES CATALOG:
Prieur 650 (5 ex) - McAlee 1160 d (this ex.)
OBVERSE
Obverse description: Draped bust, bare head of Hostilian right, seen three-quarters forward (A*01), an S under the bust.
Obverse legend: G OUAL OSTILIAN ME KUINTOS KESAR.
Obverse translation: (Caius Valens Hostilianus Messius Quintus Caesar).
REVERSE
Reverse legend: S C AT THE EXERGUE.
Reverse description: Eagle standing left on palm, wings outstretched, head left and tail right, holding wreath in beak.
Reverse legend: DHMARC EX OUSIAS.
Reverse translation: (Entrusted with tribunician power / with the agreement of the Senate of Antioch).
COMMENTARY
In the TSP database maintained by Michel Prieur, eleven examples are now listed for this type, including in Doura/Yale, Paris, Glasgow, ANS, Berlin and Gaziantep museums. This copy is illustrated without the work of Richard McAlee, p. 377, no. 1160d.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Hostilianus
(251)
Son of Trajan Decius - Caesar
Hostilianus, second son of Trajan Decius and Éruscille became Caesar at the end of the year 250, perhaps when his brother Herennius etruscus received the title of Augustus. When Trajan and his eldest son left Rome to fight the Goths and find death Hostilianus remains to Rome with his mother.

Type: Syrophoenician Tetradrachm
Date: 251
Mint name / Town: Antioch, Syria, Seleucia and Pieria
Metal: billon
Diameter: 26mm
Orientation dies: 6 h.
Weight: 12.64g.
Rarity: R3
COMMENTS ON THE CONDITION:
Copy on a wide blank perfectly centered on both sides with visible graining. Beautiful bust of a Hostilian with regular wear. Nice reverse served by a dark gray patina with golden metallic reflections
REFERENCES CATALOG:
Prieur 650 (5 ex) - McAlee 1160 d (this ex.)
OBVERSE
Obverse description: Draped bust, bare head of Hostilian right, seen three-quarters forward (A*01), an S under the bust.
Obverse legend: G OUAL OSTILIAN ME KUINTOS KESAR.
Obverse translation: (Caius Valens Hostilianus Messius Quintus Caesar).
REVERSE
Reverse legend: S C AT THE EXERGUE.
Reverse description: Eagle standing left on palm, wings outstretched, head left and tail right, holding wreath in beak.
Reverse legend: DHMARC EX OUSIAS.
Reverse translation: (Entrusted with tribunician power / with the agreement of the Senate of Antioch).
COMMENTARY
In the TSP database maintained by Michel Prieur, eleven examples are now listed for this type, including in Doura/Yale, Paris, Glasgow, ANS, Berlin and Gaziantep museums. This copy is illustrated without the work of Richard McAlee, p. 377, no. 1160d.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Hostilianus
(251)
Son of Trajan Decius - Caesar
Hostilianus, second son of Trajan Decius and Éruscille became Caesar at the end of the year 250, perhaps when his brother Herennius etruscus received the title of Augustus. When Trajan and his eldest son left Rome to fight the Goths and find death Hostilianus remains to Rome with his mother.

Hostilian (Latin: Gaius Valens Hostilianus Messius Quintus; died 251) was briefly Roman emperor in 251. Hostilian was born to Decius and Herennia Etruscilla at an unknown date and elevated to caesar in 250 by Decius. After Decius and Herennius Etruscus, Hostilian's brother, were killed at the Battle of Abritus, an ambush by the Goths, Trebonianus Gallus was proclaimed emperor by the legions. Almost immediately, he elevated Hostilian to co-emperor and his own son, Volusianus, to caesar. Hostilian died soon after, either due to plague or being murdered by Trebonianus Gallus.

Hostilian was born at an unknown date, to Decius, a Roman general who later became Emperor, and his wife Herennia Etruscilla. He had a brother, Herennius Etruscus, and one sister. His full name based on coinage and inscriptions was Gaius Valens Hostilianus Messius Quintus, but to this the historian Aurelius Victor adds Perpenna or Perperna, a name of Etruscan origin.^[1]