Sale: Nomos 1, Lot: 162. Estimate CHF3750.  Closing Date: Tuesday, 5 May 2009.  Sold For CHF5200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Hostilian. As Caesar, 250-251. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 18.28 g 12). C VALENS HOSTIL MES QVINTVS N C Bare-headed and draped bust of Hostilian to right Rev. PRINCIPI IVVENTVVTIS S C Hostilian standing left in military dress, holding standard in his right hand and reversed spear in his left. Cohen 35. RIC 216a. Rare. Struck on a full, round flan and with an attractive dark green patina with earthen highlights. Nearly extremely fine.

Hostilian was the younger son of Trajan Decius and stayed in Rome when his father and older brother went off on their ill-fated expedition against the Goths. After their deaths the field army acclaimed Trebonianus Gallus as emperor, but in a laudable attempt to avoid civil strife he immediately recognized Hostilian as his co-emperor. However, later in the year Hostilian fell ill and died from the plague. The coin was struck earlier, while he was only Caesar under his father, and is an unusually nice example.