83 / 128
81
351.
Hostilian as Augustus.
250-251 AD. Antoninianus,
4.74g (4h). Rome. Obv: IMP C MES QVINTVS
AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed right. Rx:
PIETA - S AVGG Mercury standing left holding
purse and caduceus. RIC 188 (R2). Cohen 22 (20
Fr.). EF
$450
Purchased from Fred Knobloch, 13 September 1965
.
A rare antoninianus of Hostilian as Augustus, rep-
resented by only one specimen in the Dorchester
hoard. RIC 188 seems to describe our exact coin,
but needs correction: RIC cites Cohen 22 (= 1st
ed. 16), which actually has the longer obverse
legend IMP CAE C VAL MES QVINTVS AVG, not
IMP C MESS QVINTVS AVG as on our piece. See
Wildwinds (Herakles Numismatics, May 2000) for
an actual coin like the one described by Cohen,
with the long obverse legend. At least three other
specimens are known with the short obverse legend,
like ours: (1) in Dorchester hoard, Num. Chron.
1939, p. 27, doubtless now in BM; (2) in Wildwinds,
Tom Cederlind, July 2001; (3) in CoinArchives Pro,
Grün 57, 2011, lot 163
.
352.
Sestertius, 18.63g (12h). Rome. Obv: IMP CAE
C VAL HOS MES QVINTVS AVG Bust laureate,
draped, cuirassed right. Rx: SECVRITAS AVGG S
- C Securitas standing right, leaning on column, legs
crossed, right arm raised and resting on head. RIC
225 corr. (R2). Cohen 60 (30 Fr.). By a typo in RIC
Securitas is stated to be looking left, when in fact
she looks right. Fine
$200
Ex Pegasi 103, 18 September 1997, lot 315
.
353.
Hostilian as Caesar.
251 AD. Sestertius, 16.03g
(11h). Rome. Obv: C VALEN[S HO]STIL MES
QVINTVS [N] C Bust draped right, head bare.
Rx: [PR]INCIPI IVVE[NT]VTIS around, [S C] in
exergue, Apollo seated left holding branch and rest-
ing left elbow on lyre. RIC 215a (R). Cohen 31 (15
Fr.). VF/Good VF
$300
Traded from Eric Bunsin, 8 October 1967
.
Possibly Unique Dupondius of
Hostilian as Augustus
354.
Dupondius, 12.89g (12h). Rome. Obv: IMP CAE
C VAL HOS MES QVINTVS AVG Bust radiate,
draped, cuirassed right. Rx: ROMAE AETERNAE
around, S C in exergue, Roma seated left above
shield, holding Victory and shield. Berk 94, 1997,
lot 724 (this coin); otherwise apparently unpub-
lished. VF
$400
Ex Berk 94, 16 January 1997, lot 724
.
A very rare denomination for Hostilian as Augustus,
apparently unique with this reverse type. RIC 223a-
b and Cohen 48-9 report only the sestertius and As
of this type, both also very rare, and Richard Beale’s
website on the coinage of 249-253 AD knows the
corresponding dupondius in only one specimen,
namely our coin
.
A Reverse Die from Caracalla’s Reign
Still in Use under Decius
355.
Trajan Decius.
249-251 AD. AE 35.5-37, 19.42g
(11h). Codrula, Pisidia. Obv: AVT K Γ MECI KVIN
TRAIAΔEKION CE Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed