Gaius Messius Quintus Trajanus Decius 249-251 AD Silver Antoninianus EF

Rome mint 249-251 AD

Legion Commemorative issue.

Obverse: Radiate-crowned, draped and cuirassed bust of Trajan Decius facing to the right, legend surrounds, “IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG”.

Reverse: Dacia stands facing to the left, draped in stola and palla and holding standard surmounted with ass’s head in right hand, legend surrounds, “DACIA”. RIC-12b

Gaius Messius Quintus Trajanus Decius, commonly known as Decius, was a Roman Emperor who reigned from AD 249 to 251. Born into a noble family, Decius rose through the ranks of the Roman military before ascending to the imperial throne amidst a period of internal strife and external threats. He is best known for his efforts to restore stability and unity to the Roman Empire, which had been weakened by political turmoil and barbarian invasions. Decius implemented policies aimed at revitalizing traditional Roman values, including the revival of pagan religious practices and the enforcement of loyalty to the state through the edict requiring citizens to perform sacrifices to the Roman gods. Although his reign was short-lived, Decius' attempts to strengthen the empire's foundations and his emphasis on restoring Roman traditions have left a lasting impact on the history and culture of ancient Rome.