Decius, AD 249-251, Tetradrachm

Decius, Tetradrachm, AR, AD 249–251; 10.50 g; 25 mm.

Antioch (Syria). Obv: ΑΥΤ Κ Γ ΜΕ ΚΥ ΔΕΚΙΟϹ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕΒ; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞΟΥϹΙΑϹ; eagle standing left with wings spread, wreath in beak; S C in field. Struck at Antioch on the Syrian tetradrachm standard during the reign of Decius. Ref: RPC IX 1626. Issued during Decius’ brief rule amid frontier crises and the empire-wide religious edict of 250, this Antiochene tetradrachm represents the principal silver currency of Roman Syria. The Greek legend asserts the emperor’s tribunician power, while the S C formula records senatorial authorization, a long-standing feature of this provincial series. The type circulated widely in the East during the reign that ended with Decius’ death in battle at Abritus in AD 251.