Roman Empire "Volusian" Silver Double Denarius - NGC Choice XF! Impressive 4/5 Strike & Surfaces! Concordia Standing.
Volusian. AD 251-253. Silver Antoninianus (20mm, 4.38 g, 8h). Rome mint, 4th officina. 4th emission, early AD 253. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / CONCORDIA AVGG, Concordia standing left, holding patera and double cornucopia.
Obverse: Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. The radiate crown, standard for antoniniani, symbolized divine favor and solar invincibility, linking the emperor to Sol Invictus (Unconquered Sun), a deity gaining prominence in the third century for imperial cult. The drapery and cuirass blend civil and military authority, portraying Volusian as a balanced ruler in an era of constant warfare. Portraits show him youthful, with a smooth face and short hair, emphasizing dynastic youth against his father's more paternal image.
Reverse: Concordia standing left, holding a patera in her right hand and a double cornucopia in her left. CONCORDIA AVGG = “Concord of the (Two) Augusti.” The plural AVGG explicitly signals two reigning emperors (Gallus and Volusian), emphasizing harmony between father and son, the imperial family, army, and state. This was vital propaganda during co-rulerships and crises to deter usurpation and project unity. Concordia (personification of harmony, equivalent to Greek Harmonia) standing left, holding a patera (libation bowl) in her right hand and a double cornucopia (horn of plenty) in her left. Concordia, often depicted as a matronly figure, symbolized agreement between rulers, the army, senate, and gods—critical propaganda in a divided empire. The patera represents pietas (religious duty) and offerings for divine favor, while the double cornucopia signifies shared abundance and prosperity from the dual emperors. This type echoes earlier coins (e.g., under Commodus or Severus), but here it urgently counters perceptions of instability post-Decius.
Historical Context of the Coin's Issue:
This silver antoninianus was minted in Rome in early 253 AD, during the final months of Volusian's reign. This period was the apex of the Crisis of the Third Century, characterized by:
Military and Border Threats: The Goths, having defeated Decius, received tribute from Gallus but soon violated the peace, raiding Thrace and the Balkans. Simultaneously, the Sassanid Persians under Shapur I invaded Mesopotamia, defeating Roman forces at Barbalissos in 252 AD and sacking Antioch in 253 AD, exacerbating eastern vulnerabilities.
Economic Strain: The antoninianus, introduced by Caracalla in 215 AD as a double denarius, was heavily debased by the 250s (silver content often below 50%), reflecting inflation and fiscal desperation. Mints produced coins rapidly for army pay, contributing to hyperinflation.
Plague and Social Unrest: The Plague of Cyprian killed millions, disrupting agriculture, trade, and recruitment. It likely contributed to Hostilian's death and weakened the regime's legitimacy.
Political Instability: With multiple claimants and legionary loyalties shifting to successful generals, propaganda was crucial. The Gallus-Volusian dynasty used coinage to emphasize unity, piety, and prosperity amid chaos, but it failed to prevent Aemilian's usurpation. Issued before Aemilian's revolt gained momentum, this coin type (one of Volusian's most common) served as propaganda to affirm the stability of the father-son co-rule. Similar themes appear on Gallus' coins, drawing from earlier emperors like Severus Alexander.
Emperor Volusian: A Detailed Biography
Gaius Vibius Afinius Gallus Veldumnianus Volusianus, commonly known as Volusian, was a Roman emperor who ruled jointly with his father, Trebonianus Gallus, from approximately November 251 to August 253 AD. His brief reign occurred during the tumultuous Crisis of the Third Century (235–284 AD), a period marked by political instability, frequent usurpations, barbarian invasions, economic collapse, and widespread plagues. Volusian represents one of the many short-lived emperors in this era, often referred to as the "barracks emperors" due to their reliance on military support for power.
Born sometime after 207 AD (likely around 230 AD, based on his youthful depictions on coins and the timeline of his father's career), Volusian was the son of Trebonianus Gallus, a prominent senator and governor of Moesia Superior, and Afinia Gemina Baebiana, a woman from a noble family. He had at least one sibling, a sister named Vibia Galla. Some historical sources suggest he may have been married, possibly to a sister of Hostilian (the son of the previous emperor Decius), though this is speculative and lacks firm evidence. Volusian's early life is obscure, as he was not from the imperial lineage but rose through his father's military and political ascent. Prior to his elevation, he likely received a standard elite Roman education, focusing on rhetoric, philosophy, and military training, though no specific details survive.
Volusian's path to power began in the chaotic aftermath of the Battle of Abritus in June 251 AD. Emperor Decius and his co-emperor son, Herennius Etruscus, were killed in battle against the Goths under King Cniva, marking the first time a Roman emperor died in combat against barbarians. The legions in Moesia proclaimed Trebonianus Gallus as emperor, partly due to his role as a general in the campaign and suspicions (unproven) that he may have delayed reinforcements to Decius. To legitimize his rule and avoid civil war, Gallus adopted Decius' surviving son, Hostilian, as co-emperor (Augustus) and elevated his own son, Volusian, to the rank of Caesar (heir apparent) in August 251 AD. This arrangement was a common dynastic strategy in the third century to blend continuity with new rule.
Hostilian's death in November 251 AD—attributed by most sources to the Plague of Cyprian (a devastating pandemic, possibly smallpox or measles, that ravaged the empire from 250–262 AD)—cleared the way for Volusian to be promoted to full Augustus, making him co-emperor with his father at around age 21–23. Ancient historians like Zosimus and Aurelius Victor hint at foul play, suggesting Gallus may have orchestrated Hostilian's demise, but modern scholars lean toward natural causes given the plague's toll. Volusian held the consulship twice: in 252 AD (with his father) and 253 AD, underscoring his formal integration into the imperial administration.
As emperor, Volusian played a secondary role to his father, with little evidence of independent actions. The pair issued few legal rescripts (imperial decrees), focusing instead on survival amid crises. Volusian's portraits on coins depict him as youthful and beardless, contrasting his father's more mature, bearded image, which may symbolize generational continuity and vitality. Some inscriptions and coins evoke a "saeculum novum" (new age), attempting to project optimism during decline.
Their reign ended abruptly in August 253 AD. After Aemilian, governor of Moesia, defeated a Gothic incursion and was proclaimed emperor by his troops, he marched on Italy. Gallus and Volusian mobilized but faced desertions; their own soldiers mutinied and killed them near Interamna Nahars (modern Terni, Italy). Volusian was likely in his early 20s at death. Aemilian's rule lasted only months before he too was overthrown by Valerian.
Thank you for Viewing our Listing and Visiting our Store! Please Check out our other Listings! If you ever have any Questions, Just Send us a Message! We are Liberty Rarities LLC, formerly known as Antebellum Numismatics.
*Combined Shipping Available ON ALL Items, Request an Invoice or we will send you one after one business day. Items over 16 oz. or $750 in value must be shipped Priority Mail with Signature Confirmation in order to be Fully Insured.
We Ship on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays Every Week! Excluding Federal Holiday Dates.
Payment on all items is expected within Five Business Days to ensure a timely delivery. Please contact us directly if you need more than Five Business Days to send payment. BUYER is Responsible for ANY Import Fees or Customs, No Exceptions!
ALL Precious Metals are tested with our own Sigma Metalytics Precious Metal Tester and guaranteed genuine. We Offer A 30-Day No-Questions-Asked Return Policy on Most* items to all our customers! Please message us if you have any questions about our items and we are happy to answer them, as returns can be an inconvenience to both parties. The only exception is when items are damaged, tampered with, or removed from holders. All Bullion or Silver Sales are final as market conditions are constantly changing.
Feedback is crucial to us here on EBAY and we kindly ask you to contact us if there are any unforeseen issues before leaving negative feedback and we will be happy to resolve them with you. We pride ourselves on having outstanding customer service.
Shipping is by USPS Ground Advantage/First Class unless package is Fragile or Over $750 in value. All packages over $750 will be sent Priority Mail with Signature in order to be fully insured. International Shipping is through Ebay's Global Shipping Program by default, which may get expensive in some foreign countries. International Shipping is also through USPS First Class International Package Service or Priority Mail depending on the value. If items are shipped internationally, it is the Buyer's Responsibility to pay ANY import duties or taxes. All Declared Values for International Orders must be accurate and matching the invoice. All International Shipments over $400 in Value must be shipped USPS Priority Mail International. No Shipment of Items over $850 Internationally due to Insurance Policy Restrictions, no exceptions.
Coin grading is subjective and all coins can be interpreted differently, so we try to post very large, up close shots of each item we list. And remember to buy the coin and not the holder! Be sure to take a close look and come up with your own opinion! All ungraded coins we offer are authentic and genuine as we ONLY buy from reputable dealers and shows, if there are any discrepancies, we are happy to address them and always offer our 30-Day return policy to all our buyers. We are a family-owned small business and appreciate your business and feedback.