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Trajan Decius (249-251), Antoninianus, 249-51, Rome, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, rev. the two Pannoniæ standing facing, each holding standard, 4.29g (RIC 21b; C 86). About extremely fine, reverse a little weak (£60-80)

The reverse type clearly refers to the campaign in Pannonia against a powerful Germanic tribe, the Goths, large numbers of whom had moved some years earlier from their ancestral home in Sweden to settle in the southern steppes of Russia. The campaign was a disaster. Decius was routed at Philippopolis and during a second defeat at Abrittus, he died on the battlefield, together with his eldest son, Herrenius. Decius was the first emperor to be killed in battle against foreign foes