Hostilianus was the son of Emperor Hostilianus Decius and Herennia Etruscilla. His brother Herennius Etruscus was raised with him at the imperial court. His father appointed him caesar (heir to the throne) in 250. In 251, after Decius and Herennius Etruscus were killed in battle against the Goths (at Abrittus), the army proclaimed Trebonianus Gallus emperor. To avoid internal tension, Gallus elevated Hostilianus to co-emperor (augustus). His reign was extremely short - it lasted barely four months. He probably died of an epidemic (the Plague of Cyprian) in the summer of 251. After his death, Gallus appointed his own son Volusianus as co-emperor. Hostilianus' story is tragic and short, but it well reflects the critical period of the Roman Empire in the third century, when emperors often fell victim to military conflicts or epidemics.

Hostilian, whose full name was Gaius Valens Hostilianus Messius Quintus, reigned for only a few months in 251, making his coinage a short but numismatically unique period. Although his reign was short, several coins were minted in his name, mainly in the eastern and Balkan regions of the empire.Viminacium: A mint in what is now Serbia, where bronze coins bearing the name of Hostilian were minted. A known example bears the inscription: C VAL HOST M QVINTVS CAE / PMS C-OL VIM // AN XII This refers to Hostilian's rank as Caesar and the city (COL VIM = Colonia Viminacium).Antoninian: These silver-plated copper coins were the most common coins of the period. Hostilianus minted several types, for example: SECVRITAS AVGG – depicting the goddess Securitas PIETAS AVGG – Pietas, the personification of divine duty PRINC IVVENTVTIS – featuring the figure of Apollo, referring to Hostilianus' youth and princely rank Materials: Bronze, billon (silver-copper alloy), rarely pure silver Depictions: Radiate portraits, figures of gods, allegorical scenes Inscriptions: They often bear the abbreviation AVGG (Augustorum), indicating co-emperor status with his brother or Trebonianus Gallus Hostilianus' coins are rare, as his reign was short and the plague quickly ended his life. The style and quality of the coins reflect the period of crisis in the 3rd century: low silver content and quickly worn out dies are common.