Trajan Decius Double Sestertius

[kc]

Today I want to share a big and for an Double Sestertius not really heavy coin (pieces of over 50 gramms are known) of Trajan  Decius with you. It has a weight of 31.63g and a diameter of 37mm at its widest.

Obv. IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front
Rev. FELICITAS SAECVLI, S C across field, Felicitas standing left, holding a long caduceus in right hand, cradling cornucopia in left arm
Mint: Rome, 250 AD.

RIC 115a

[Potator II]

Nice portrait for a rare and sought after coin, congrats

Potator

[Mark Z]

Andreas,

I love this coin!

mz

[marcvs_traianvs]

Got to love how the ancients dealt with inflation....very nice example.  Always have found the creation of the double sestertius a bit strange though, I can understand gold or silver being in short supply, but bronze?

Although must say, would rather be lugging a sack full of those than of the AS Graves..

[ancientdave]

Really great portrait!

[mauseus]

Hi,

Nice coin, envious! Have you seen the onine die study of these coins to check for the combination of your coin? The site can be found at:

http://www.qblay.com/DeciusDS/

I believe it is run by a FORVM member.

Regards,

Mauseus

[dougsmit]

Hi,

Nice coin, envious! Have you seen the onine die study of these coins to check for the combination of your coin? The site can be found at:

http://www.qblay.com/DeciusDS/

I believe it is run by a FORVM member.

Regards,

Mauseus

Anyone agree?

Register 8 of  10
Coin Name           : H51       Reference  : Lanz 117 #1116 24-11-2003
Obverse Die         : TC01      Axis       :
Reverse Die         : FS05      Weight     : 31.63 gr

[gallienus1]

Well spotted Doug. More than a die match, the same coin! (I’ve drained the colour from the image of kc’s coin adjusted the contrast and size to make the case more clear.)

Very well selected and bought kc.

Best Regards,
steve

[Randygeki(h2)]

Wonderful portrait! Congrats!

[kc]

Very interesting information. Thank you all for the kind words.

[cliff_marsland]

It's a super addition; large flan, nice obverse, pretty heavy.  It's one of the holes I haven't filled as yet. 

[cliff_marsland]

I'll pose another question I've had for a long time; how long did the Decius era Double Sestertii stay in circulation?  The only D.S. I have are the Postumus variety and an Aurelian.

[kc]

Hi cliff,

thank you very much.

Double Sestertii are known from Trajanus Decius, his wife Herennia Etruscilla, Gallienus, Postumus and Aurelian.
How long the Decius Double Sestertii circulated, depended on the popularity of Decius, I guess. Decius decayed a Damnatio memoriae (abolitio nominis) after his death and so I do not believe that his coins circulated longer.

Regards

kc

[qblay]

Hello kc,

Beautiful picture this one of your Double Sestertius.
With your permission I'll include it in my web to improve the on I have of this coin (now D51, formerly H51)

By the way I've just published another die link report on the aureus of Decius.
You can visit it at www.qblay.com

The level of original dies is not so high as the one in DiviSeries or DoubleSestertius but I hope it will improve.

Best regards

Joaquim Blay
Barcelona (Spain)