TREBONIANUS GALLUS
AD 251-253
AR Antoninianus. 3.98g, 21.9mm
MINTED: Antioch mint, 7th officina, AD 251-253
REF: RIC IV 80 (scarce)
OBVERSE: IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
REVERSE: AEQVITAS AVG, Aequitas standing facing, head left, holding scales and cornucopia; IIV in exergue.

Grade/Notes: 
Very Fine.  Nice, old collection toning. Struck from slightly worn obverse die. 
Scarce Antioch mint issue with officina mark (IIV) in exergue on reverse.
 
Historical Notes:
Trebonianus Gallus was a senator and general who had accompanied Emperor Trajan Decius on his ill-fated campaign against an army of invading Goths.  When Decius fell in battle , what was left of the decimated Roman legions declared Gallus the new emperor.  Returning to Rome, Gallus accepted his predecessor's son Hostilian as co-emperor, and gave his own son Volusian the title of Caesar.  Gallus's brief reign was troubled by numerous rebellions and invasions, and support for his regime rapidly eroded.  In 253, Gallus and Volusian marched to put down the revolt of Aemilian, the governor of Moesia Superior and Pannonia. They had summoned the German legions under the future emperor Valerian to support them, but before Valerian could arrive, Gallus's own soldiers turned against him and murdered both him and Volusian.