Herennius Etruscus, as Caesar, AD 249-251, Tetradrachm

Herennius Etruscus, Tetradrachm, AR (billon), as Caesar, AD 249–251; Antioch (Syria). 10.90 g, 26 mm. Obverse: ΕΡΕΝΝ ΕΤΡΟΥ ΜΕ ΚΥ ΔΕΚΙΟϹ ΚΕϹΑΡ; bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust of Herennius Etruscus right. Reverse: ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞΟΥϹΙΑϹ; eagle standing facing, wings spread, head left, wreath in beak; S C in field. Struck at Antioch on the Syrian tetradrachm standard, with Greek legends and the traditional eagle reverse of the Antiochene series. References: RPC IX 1651.

Herennius Etruscus was the elder son of Trajan Decius and served as Caesar from AD 249 to 251 before a brief elevation to Augustus; he was killed alongside his father during the Gothic campaign culminating at Abrittus in 251. This Antiochene tetradrachm represents the principal silver denomination of the eastern provinces, combining Greek legends with the local eagle type and the Latin S C, reflecting senatorial sanction carried over into provincial issues; it was struck for regional circulation during Decius’ short reign and the eastern military operations of the period.