Roman Empire

Herennia Etruscilla, Empress AD 249-251

RIC 59a; Calicó 3308a, Superb Extremely Fine

Rome, AD 250. HER ETRVSCILLA AVG, diademed and draped bust of Herennia Etruscilla right. Reverse: PVDICITIA AVG, Pudicitia, veiled, seated left, drawing veil and holding scepter.

Ex NAC 102 (24 October 2017), 547; Gorny & Mosch 175 (9 March 2009), 279

Little is known about Herennia Cupressenia Etruscilla, the wife of Trajan Decius and mother of Herennius Etruscus and Hostilian. After the deaths of Decius and Herennius at Abritus, the widowed Augusta served as regent for Hostilian, who was only about 13-years-old when his father was killed. She seems to have maintained her position as regent after the arrival of Trebonianus Gallus and his adoption of Hostilian. Herennia Etruscilla disappears from the historical record along with her son after November of AD 251. Some have speculated that Hostilian was carried off by the plague that ravaged Rome in that year and his mother may have died the same way.