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Trebonianus Gallus –
Roman Emperor
: 251-253 A.D. –
Silver Antoninianus 20mm (3.00 grams) Struck at the mint of Rome
251-253 A.D.
Reference: RIC 39, C 67
IMPCAECVIBTREBGALLVSAVG – Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
LIBERTASAVGG – Libertas standing left, leaning on column and with legs crossed,
holding pileus and scepter.
You are bidding on the exact item pictured,
provided with a Certificate of Authenticity and Lifetime Guarantee of
Authenticity.
The pileus (from
Greek
πῖλος – pilos, also pilleus
or pilleum in Latin
) was a brimless,
felt cap worn by sailors in
Ancient Greece
and later copied by
Ancient Rome
.
It became emblematic of
liberty
and freedom from bondage. During the
classic revival of the 18th and 19th centuries it was widely confused with the
Phrygian cap
which, in turn, appeared
frequently on
statuary
and
heraldic
devices as a “liberty cap.”
LIBERTAS – Liberty is represented in two ways on coins: the one as a
woman with a naked head, which is the image of Roman Liberty; the other having
her head covered with a veil, and adorned with a diadem, is the effigy of the
goddess of liberty, whose temple was on Mount Aventine. The veil is in this case
the token of divinity, as indeed the diadem is the ornament of a goddess.
Liberty is represented not only on consular medals, but also with considerable
frequency on those of the imperial series.
Goddesses named for and representing the concept Liberty have existed
in many cultures, including classical examples dating from the
Roman Empire
and some national symbols such as
the British
“Britannia”
or the Irish
“Kathleen
Ni Houlihan“. The
ancient Roman
goddess
Libertas
was honored during the
second Punic War
by a temple erected on the
Aventine Hill
in
Rome by the father of
Tiberius Gracchus
. A statue in her honor was
also raised by Clodius
on the site of
Marcus Tullius Cicero
‘s house after it had been
razed. The figure also resembles Sol Invictus, the Roman god of sun.
The pileus (from
Greek
πῖλος – pilos, also pilleus
or pilleum in Latin
) was a brimless,
felt cap worn by sailors in
Ancient Greece
and later copied by
Ancient Rome
.
It became emblematic of
liberty
and freedom from bondage. During the
classic revival of the 18th and 19th centuries it was widely confused with the
Phrygian cap
which, in turn, appeared
frequently on
statuary
and
heraldic
devices as a “liberty cap.”
Gaius
Vibius Trebonianus Gallus (206 – August, 253), was
Roman
Emperor
from 251 to 253, in a joint rule with his son
Volusianus
.
Gallus was born in Italy, in a family with respected ancestry
of
Etruscan
senatorial
background. He had two children in his marriage with
Afinia Gemina Baebiana
: Gaius Vibius Volusianus, later Emperor, and a
daughter, Vibia Galla. His early career was a typical
cursus honorum
, with several appointments, both political and military.
He was suffect consul
and in 250 was nominated governor of the
Roman province
of
Moesia Superior
,
an appointment that showed the confidence of emperor
Trajan Decius
in him. In Moesia, Gallus was a key figure in repelling the
frequent invasion attacks by the
Gothic
tribes of
the Danube
and
became popular with the army, catered to during his brief Imperial rule by his
official image: military haircut, gladiatorial physique, intimidating stance (illustration,
left).[1]
In June 251, Decius and his co-emperor and son
Herennius Etruscus
died in the
Battle of Abrittus
, at the hands of the Goths they were supposed to punish
for raids into the empire, largely owing to the failure of Gallus to attack
aggressively. When the army heard the news, the soldiers proclaimed Gallus
emperor, despite
Hostilian
,
Decius’ surviving son, ascending the imperial throne in Rome. Gallus did not
back down from his intention to become emperor, but accepted Hostilian as
co-emperor, perhaps to avoid the damage of another civil war. While Gallus
marched on Rome, an outbreak of
plague
struck the city and killed young Hostilian. With absolute power now
in his hands, Gallus nominated his son Volusianus co-emperor.
Eager to show himself competent and gain popularity with the
citizens, Gallus swiftly dealt with the epidemic, providing burial for the
victims. Gallus is often accused of persecuting the
Christians
, but the only solid evidence of this allegation is the
imprisoning of
Pope Cornelius
in 252.
Like his predecessors, Gallus did not have an easy reign. In
the East, Persian Emperor
Shapur I
invaded and conquered the province of
Syria
, without any response from Rome. On the Danube, the Gothic tribes were
once again on the loose, despite the peace treaty signed in 251. The army was
not long pleased with the emperor, and when
Aemilianus
,
governor of Moesia Superior and Pannonia, took the initiative of battle and
defeated the Goths, the soldiers proclaimed him emperor. With a
usurper
threatening the throne, Gallus prepared for a fight. He recalled
several legions
and ordered reinforcements to return to Rome from the
Rhine
frontier.
Despite these dispositions, Aemilianus marched onto Italy ready to fight for his
claim. Gallus did not have the chance to face him in battle: he and
Volusianus
were murdered by their own troops in August 253, in
Interamna (modern
Terni)
.
Bronze of Gallus dating from the time of his reign as
Roman Emperor, the only surviving near-complete full-size 3rd century Roman
bronze (Metropolitan
Museum of Art)[2]
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