In the Spring of 251, the mint at Rome struck a sestertius for the young Caesar Hostilian. The reverse shows Apollo seated in calm dignity, lyre at his side, under the legend PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS - a promise of dynastic stability. Within months that promise was broken. Decius and Herennius Etruscus were dead after a battle at Abritus with the Goths. Hostilian too would die soon afterwards, perhaps by plague, perhaps by murder. Modern historians disagree over whether the the Pl

BM1877 Alexandria GORDIAN III laureate cuirassed AKMANTΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟCEV Homonoia stands left with double cornucopoia. LE to left. EF 3/3. Seaby (on reverse) The year AD 238 is often called the " Year of the Six Emperors ". The year began with Maximinus Thrax as emperor, a career soldier of humble background who relied heavily on the army and showed little patience for the Senate. To fund his military campaigns, he imposed harsh tax demands across the provinces. The strain was espe

It is said that there are three kinds of ancient coin collectors: Those who admit to having purchased fakes. Those who have purchased fakes and don’t admit it. Those who have purchased fakes and don’t know it.

The Deccan Plateau is the massive, elevated tableland that occupies the vast majority of the interior of the Indian peninsula. The word "Deccan" is an anglicized version of the Prakrit word dakkhin, which derives from the Sanskrit dakshina, meaning "south." Geologically, it is a staggering formation - a huge shield of ancient volcanic rock.Geologists call this region the Deccan Traps. It is one of the largest volcanic features on planet Earth.