TYPE Roman Empire, Trebonianus Gallus (251-3 AD), bronze AE26 of Viminacium (Moesia Superior), struck 250-1 AD DESCRIPTION . Obv: Laureate bust to right, legend: IMP C GALLVS P FELIX AVG Rev: Moesia between bull and lion, legend: PMS COL VIM / AN XII (= yr 12 of colonial Viminacium era = 250/1 AD) REFERENCE: cf. SGI 4307 GRADING: F+, green patina, rare year and legend ORDER INFO: R1530, $48 A rare and puzzling, possibly unpublished obverse legend, the formulation of which ("Pius Felix") was more characteristic of the early emperors (Gordian, Philip) that struck coinage during the brief 16-year activity of the Viminacium mint (239-255 AD). The type and dating - Colonia Viminacium, yr. 12 of its era = 250/1 AD) are beyond doubt, and that year could correspond to the very beginning of Gallus' reign (late summer 251 AD), in the process supporting the thesis of some Yugoslav scholars that the start of the Viminacium era should be placed later in the calendar year, as compared to the usually accepted July 1 dating.