Roman Silver Antoninianus Of Herennius Etruscus (AD 251) NGC

This NGC-certified silver Antoninianus was struck during the brief reign of Herennius Etruscus in AD 251, one of the many short-lived emperors of Rome’s turbulent third century. The eldest son of Emperor Trajan Decius and Empress Herennia Etruscilla, Herennius was elevated to the rank of Caesar around AD 250 and later named co-Augustus alongside his father.

Herennius’ rise to power came at a time of extreme instability for the Roman Empire, marked by continuous military threats and internal unrest. In AD 251, during a campaign against the invading Gothic tribes, both Herennius and his father were killed at the disastrous Battle of Abrittus—making him one of several emperors to die in combat during the Crisis of the Third Century.

Though his reign was brief, coins bearing his name were struck to legitimize his status and demonstrate dynastic continuity. The Antoninianus, a silver coin introduced a few decades earlier, was still widely used for imperial propaganda and typically features the emperor wearing a radiate crown. The reverse designs often emphasize military virtues, divine favor, or dynastic unity.

Certified and encapsulated by NGC, this coin is a poignant relic from a chaotic era in Roman history, offering collectors a tangible link to the Severan dynasty’s collapse and the empire’s struggle to maintain control. It is particularly appealing to those interested in crisis-era emperors, father-son co-rulers, or the fleeting figures who briefly wore the imperial purple before falling to history’s relentless tide.