LEG XIII GEM

442, Lot: 407. Estimate $100. Sold for $140. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Gallienus. AD 253-268. Antoninianus (19.5mm, 3.00 g, 11h). Mediolanum (Milan) mint. Issue 2(2), AD 260-1. GALLIENVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust left, viewed from rear, holding spear, pointing upwards, and shield on left shoulder / LEG XIII GEM VI P VI F, Victory walking right, holding wreath and palm; lion walking left at her feet. MIR 36, 1017i; RIC V (joint reign) 360 var. (bust type); Cunetio 1473. Near VF, some silver content, porous, reverse deposits.

Bought from Manton Associates, 1991.

Legio XIII Gemina is one of the most famous Roman legions, thanks to its steadfast support of Julius Caesar from its foundation in circa 57 BC (and the HBO Rome television series recounting those times). In 49 BC it crossed the Rubicon river in northern Italy with Caesar, igniting the sequence of civil wars that doomed the Roman Republic and placed Caesar and his heirs in power. Caesar pensioned off his soldiers with land at Spello, Italy in circa 45 BC, but his heir Octavian called them back to action circa 41 BC to fight Sextus Pompey. In fact soldiers from the Thirteenth rescued Octavian after a shipwreck during the campaign. After Actium, Legio XIII was reinforced with veterans from one of Antony’s disbanded legions, gaining it the epithet Gemina (”Twin”). It took part in several Julio-Claudian campaigns from 15 BC to Nero’s fall in AD 68. Siding with Otho it suffered defeat to the Vitellian legions at the First Battle of Bedriacum in Spring AD 69, but soon thereafter supported Vespasian and gained its revenge at the Second Battle at the same city that Winter. XIII Gemina fought in numerous campaigns during the second century, eventually settling into permanent quarters at Apulum in Dacia (modern Alba Julia, Romania). Its emblems were a lion and winged Victory, who is seen here.