A.D. 249-251 Roman Billon Tetradrachm Trajan Decius NGC Ch AU

17-Centuries-Old Roman Coins

This is a billon Tetradrachm of Roman Emperor Gaius Messius Quintus Trajanus Decius, who ruled for a very short term from A.D. 249-251. Trajan Decius, as he was called, was an emperor during the Crisis of the Third Century, an era when at least 26 different men laid claim to the throne. Unlike many other claimants, Trajan Decius had political expertise and came to power after serving in many of Rome's public offices such as senator, suffect consul, provincial governor, and urban prefect. Decius rose to prominence following a military coup when his predecessor, Philip the Arab, was killed.

The Short But Eventful Reign Of Tajan Decius

Not to be confused with Roman Emperor Trajan, one of the Roman Empire's "Five Good Emperors" who reigned from A.D. 98-117, Trajan Decius is best remembered for persecuting Christians and forcing them to sacrifice to the emperor, though his edict was not aimed solely at Christians. He did begin a pair of building projects that included refurbishing the Colosseum, which had been damaged by a lightning strike, and starting construction on the Baths of Decius. The Baths were completed in 252, a year after the emperor's death, and survived through the 1500s.

The reign of Trajan Decius was cut short in 251 when he died fighting Goth invaders during the Battle of Abritus. Trapped in a swampy region in what is today Northeastern Bulgaria, Trajan Decius and his troops—three full legions—were slaughtered, and he became the first Roman emperor to die fighting a foreign enemy. The defeat led to even more instability across the empire as new Roman emperor Trebonianus Gallus was forced to allow the Goths to return home with their loot and prisoners. It would be another 20 years before Rome was able to put a stop to the barbarian incursions in the region.

Amazing Choice About Uncirculated condition

These coins were struck in billon, an alloy consisting of gold or silver and a base metal, usually copper. Each also comes certified, graded, and authenticated by the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) as being in Choice About Uncirculated (Ch AU) condition—just short of a Mint State (MS) grade—and show a stunning level of detail given that they were struck more than 1,700 years ago. Secure yours now!