(Copper/bronze/brass) Double Sestertius of Trajan Decius

(Copper/bronze/brass) Double Sestertius of Trajan Decius

Trajan Decius

249-251 CE

Obverse: Decius, in profile view, radiate, draped and cuirassed. IMP(ERATOR) C(AIVS) M(ESSIUS) Q(UINTVS) TRAIANVS DECIVS AUG(VSTVS) : Imperator Caius Messius Quintus Traianus Decius Augustus

Reverse: Personification of Felicitas, holding a cornucopiae and caduceus. FELICITAS SAECVLI: the felicity of the age

Style/Period: Roman Empire

Gaius Messius Quintus Decius adopted the title Traianus in order to associate himself with the emperor Trajan and his military policy and association with Danube. The designation IMP reflected Decius's constant military prowess, as he was typically in battle. Decius's portrait is similar to the "veristic" style of Republican portraiture, which also aligns with his traditional conservative values. His forehead is lined and his cheeks are sunken. He is also wearing a cuirass, a military garment, again showing his emphasis on militarism. On his head, he wears a radiate crown. This crown had been used since the time of Tiberius to give its subject an association with the divine, namely Sol, the sun god. At this time, the radiate crown also served to double the denomination of the coin. On the reverse of the coin is a personification of Felicitas with two of her most common attributes, a cornucopiae and a caduceus. These symbols work together to indicate wealth and prosperity. The inscription "the felicity of the age" was commonly used to advertise the blessings brought by the emperor. The obverse and reverse taken together illustrate the contradictions of Decius' reign. While his name recalls Trajan, his portrait certainly does not. Decius shows himself to be a military man, tired and weary, but at the same time is trying to project an image of the perfect, prosperous Empire on the reverse.

- Anna E. Vogel, LU '18

Bibliography: S. Hornblower and A. Spawforth, eds., The Oxford Classical Dictionary (Oxford 1996), s.v. Messius Quintus Decius; J. M. Jones, A Dictionary of Ancient Roman Coins (London 1990), s.v. caduceus, cornucopiae, Felicitas, radiate crown; F. S. Salisbury and H. Mattingly, “The Reign of Trajan Decius,” The Journal of Roman Studies 14 (1924) 1-23.

Former collection of Ottilia Buerger. Purchased from Coin Galleries auction, December 2, 1960.

91.223

Wriston Art Center Galleries, Lawrence University, Appleton, WI,wriston-gallery@lawrence.edu,920-832-6890