Trajan Decius AE Sestertius Moesia Superior. Viminacium AD 250-251

Trajan Decius AE Sestertius (22.5mm 13.03g)Moesia Superior. Viminacium AD 250-251

Obv: IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG Laureate and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind.

Rev: PMS-C-OL VIM Moesia standing facing, arms outstretched over a bull and a lion. ANXII in ex. (year 12)

AMNG 128 RPC IX, 21
Found in an uncleaned coin lot

This coin was made in a city called Viminacium, which was a major military hub located in what is now Serbia.

Here is a breakdown of what all the symbols and text on this exact coin mean:

1. The Front (Obverse): The Emperor's Portrait

• What you see: A portrait of Emperor Trajan Decius looking to the right. He is wearing a laurel wreath (the classic Roman crown of victory) and military armor (cuirass).
• The Text: IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG
• What it means: This is an abbreviation for Imperator Caesar Messius Quintus Traianus Decius Augustus. It is basically his full, official imperial title telling everyone, "Hey, I'm the boss of the Roman Empire!"

2. The Back (Reverse): The Province and its Animals

The back of this coin has a ton of local pride and military storytelling packed into it!

• What you see: A woman standing in the center with her arms stretched out. On her left side is a bull, and on her right side is a lion.
• The Text at the top: PMS-C-OL VIM
• What it means: This stands for Provincia Moesia Superior Colonia Viminacium. It tells us exactly where the coin was made: the colony of Viminacium in the province of Upper Moesia. The woman standing in the middle is actually the personification (a human goddess version) of the province of Moesia itself!
• The Secret of the Bull and Lion: The bull and the lion aren't just random pets. They represent the two powerful Roman military legions stationed right there to guard the Danube River border!
  • The Bull was the mascot of Legio VII Claudia (the 7th Legion).
  • The Lion was the mascot of Legio IV Flavia (the 4th Legion).
  • By showing Moesia standing protectively over both animals, the coin is saying that the province is safe and sound thanks to its brave legions.

3. The Date Code at the Bottom

• The Text: ANXII (in the exergue, the little space at the bottom).
• What it means: Anno XII translates to "Year 12." Viminacium started its own local calendar system when it was granted the right to mint coins under Emperor Gordian III in AD 239. Year 1 of their calendar was AD 239–240. If you count 12 years forward from that starting point, you land exactly in AD 250–251, right during Trajan Decius's brief reign!