AD 249-251 Roman Provincial Trajan Decius Billon Tetradrachm Antioch NGC Choice About Uncirculated

Trajan Decius ruled the Roman Empire from AD 249 to 251, a brief but consequential reign marked by military campaigns along the Danube frontier and efforts to restore traditional Roman religious practices. This billon tetradrachm was struck at the important provincial mint of Antioch in Syria, one of the great cities of the eastern Roman world. Antioch's mint produced large quantities of tetradrachms that served as the primary medium of exchange throughout the eastern provinces, and issues of Trajan Decius from this mint are well-regarded among collectors of Roman provincial coinage.

The obverse presents a radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Trajan Decius facing right, rendered with bold portrait detail and strong definition in the facial features and crown. The surrounding legend identifies the emperor in Greek. The reverse features an eagle standing facing with wings spread, head turned left, with a wreath held in its beak and S C in the exergue. The eagle device is well-struck with clear feather definition in the wings and body, and the legends are largely complete around the periphery.

Certified by NGC Ancients as Choice About Uncirculated, this tetradrachm displays attractive surfaces with strong device definition and minimal high-point wear. The billon composition retains a pleasing silvery tone, and the overall strike is well-centered on a full flan. Provincial tetradrachms of Trajan Decius from Antioch are a popular collecting area within Roman provincial numismatics, offering accessible examples of third-century imperial portraiture from a historically significant eastern mint. We have several examples available similar to the coin pictured here.