Decentius as Caesar AD 351-353 Bronze Follis Trier

Decentius as Caesar AD 351-353 Bronze Follis

Bare headed bust right/ 2 Victories facing holding wreath

Trier

RCV18880; 20mm, 3.82g

Decentius was a brother, or possibly a cousin, of Magnentius. Elevated to Caesar at Milan in the spring of AD 351 he was instructed by Magnentius to defend the German frontier. With inadequate forces he could only react to incursions into his province and on occasion came close to being overwhelmed. After Magnentius was defeated at Mursa the influence of Magnentius and Decentius declined as both retreated back to Gaul. The end came when Magnentius committed suicide following defeat at Lugdunum. Decentius retreated to Sens, near Paris, where he too committed suicide.
As with Magnentius, Decentius is also depicted bare headed on his coinage.