Description

Roman Provincial.

Trajan Decius, A.D.249-251, short-lived reign.

Tetradrachm, 250-251, Antioch mint, the major eastern metropolis of the Roman Empire.

Obverse: Bust of Trajan Decius right, laureate, draped, cuirassed, letter 'N' on its side under the neck.

Greek Legend: ΑΥΤ Κ Γ ΜЄ ΚΥ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟC ΔЄΚΙΟC CЄΒ (The emperor caesar Gaius Messius Quintus Decius Traianus, august.)

Reverse: Features the Roman Aquila, Eagle standing left on palm, wings spread, holding wreath in beak, legend around.

Letter N on its side under the bust is Officina 7.

Greek Reverse legend: ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ЄΞΟΥCΙΑC / S C (Tribunician Power By decree of the Senate.)

Metal: Billon, 13.03g, 27mm. Billon (heavily debased silver), typically containing about 10-15% actual silver, with a weight averaging 13 g to 14 g.

Grade: VF.

Reference: Prieur 548.

A Trajan Decius tetradrachm from Antioch (minted AD 249–251) is a fascinating piece of Roman provincial history. It features the emperor's portrait in Greek script on the obverse and a Roman eagle on the reverse. It is a billon (debased silver) coin that circulated heavily during the mid-third century Crisis of the Third Century.