Moisés ANTIQUEIRA (Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Brazil), Gilvan Ventura DA SILVA (Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Brazil),
An unpromising dynastic succession in the third century: Hostilian and Volusian as principes iuventutis on Roman coinage (AD 251)
Keywords: third-century Roman emperorship, succession of power, Hostilian and Volusian, imperial coinage.
Abstract: When Trebonianus Gallus was acclaimed emperor after the Battle of Abrittus, which resulted in the death of Decius and Herennius Etruscus at the hands of the Goths, it might have seemed that the imperial succession was completed. However, Decius was survived by another son, the fifteen-year-old Hostilian, who in fact held the title of Caesar at that time. Then an imperial collegiate was constituted by Gallus, Hostilian, and Volusian (Gallus’ son). Dynastic coin types bearing the title PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS (“to the prince of youth”) were struck at Rome for both Hostilian and Volusian in the summer of 251. We explain how these coins were intended to promote Volusian, rather than Hostilian, as the favored successor to his father.