The Volusian is in a quite bad condition, however I didn't have a Volusian until now: Antoninianus, Rome, 251-252 AD 6th officina. 2nd emission 20 x 21 mm, 2.247 g, 7h RIC IV, 180; RSC 71 Ob.: IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Volusian to r. Border of dots. Rev.: PAX AVGG Pax, draped, standing to l., holding branch in r. hand and traverse scepter in l. hand; in r. field star and two Antonianii of Salonina, both flans are more oval than round Gallia, Lugdunum, 257 - 258 AD; struck under the authority of Valerian I and Gallienus 18.4 x 21.4 mm, 2.767 g, 1h RIC V Salonina 6; MIR 36, Nr. 903 c (Köln, 2. Emission, 258-259 AD.); Ob.: SALONINA AVG Diademed and draped bust of Salonina to r. set on crescent. Border of dots. Rev.: FELICITAS PVBLICA Felicitas seated left, holding caduceus in r. hand and cornucopia in l. Gallia, Lugdunum, 257 - 258 AD; struck under the authority of Valerianus I and Gallienus. According to Göbl the mint is Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium (Cologne) 22.2 x 23 mm, 3.118 g, 6h RIC V, Part I, 7(C) (Lugdunum); RSC IV 115 (Lugdunum); Hunter IV J24; Eauze 1513; Cunetio 733; Elmer 60, SRCV III 10655; Göbl MIR 898c (Cologne) Ob.: SALONINA AVG Diademed and draped bust of Salonina to r. set on crescent. Border of dots Rev.: VENVS FELIX Venus seated to l. holding transverse scepter in l. hand and reaching to child before her with an apple in her r. hand.
Nice additions. Like you, I came across a Volusian in poor condition. I put in a very low bid and won it. My first Volusian and also my first Salonina. Volusian, AR Antoninianus, Antioch.. AD 251-253. 22 mm, 4,30 g IMP C V AF GAL VEND VOLVSIANO AVG, radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right, / ADVENTVS AVG, Volusian on horseback, riding left, holding spear and raising right hand. RIC IV 224a; RSC 2a. Egypt. Alexandria. Salonina AD 254-268. Billon-Tetradrachm 21 mm, 9,65 g Volume: X №: — (unassigned; ID 75575) Reign: Gallienus (sole reign) Persons: Salonina (Augusta) City: Alexandria Region: Egypt Province: Egypt Denomination: Tetradrachm Average weight: 9.76 g. Issue: Year 15 (AD 267/8) Obverse: ΚΟΡΝΗΛΙΑ ϹΑΛωΝΕΙΝΑ ϹΕΒ; draped and diademed bust of Salonina, right Reverse: L ΙΕ; eagle standing right, spreading wings, holding wreath in beak; to upper left, palm branch.
I only have a few coins of Volusian and Salonina as I'm rather particular about the condition of those coin types and it's difficult finding quality coins. Both Coins Authority: Volusian (Augustus 253 AD) Denomination: AR Antoninianus Mint: Rome (251 – 253 AD) Obverse: IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right Reverse: CONCORDIA AVGG Concordia seated left holding patera in right hand and double cornucopia in left hand References: RIC IV, Part iii, 168 Authority: Volusian (Augustus 253 AD) Denomination: AR Antoninianus Mint: Mediolanum (251 – 253 AD) Obverse: IMP C C VIB VOLVSIANVS AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right Reverse: FELICITAS PVBL Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus in right hand and cornucopia in left hand References: RIC IV, Part iii, 205 Authority: Salonina (Gallienus : Augustus joint with Valerian I 253 – 260 AD; sole 260 – 268 AD) Denomination: AR Antoninianus Mint: Rome (253 AD) Obverse: CORN SALONINA AVG Diademed and draped bust right on crescent Reverse: VESTA Vesta, draped, standing left, holding patera in right hand and sceptre in left hand References: RIC V, 39 Authority: Salonina (Gallienus : Augustus joint with Valerian I 253 – 260 AD; sole 260 – 268 AD) Denomination: BI Antoninianus Mint: Asia (260 – 268 AD) Obverse: SALONINA AVG Diademed and draped bust right on crescent Reverse: CERERI AVG Ceres, draped, seated left, holding corn-ears in right hand and torch in left hand, olive branch below References: RIC V, 90
Thank you so much for sharing your really nice coins, even the Volusian that @expat says is in poor condition, is certainly much better than my Volusian.
My only Volusian. I don't have Salonina yet! Volusian AR Antoninianus. Rome, AD 253. IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / CONCORDIA AVGG, Concordia standing facing, head to left, holding patera and double cornucopiae. RIC IV 167; RSC 20.
Like others, I had a terrible time trying to find a Volusian in good condition at a reasonable price. I came across a French hoard from Brittany that was being dispersed on eBay a while back, and the hoard had an encrusted Volusian that I was able to bring back from the dead (apologies for the horrible photos, I suck at coin photography). Before: After: The coin was pretty much in EF condition underneath all the surface deposits.
Believe it or not, I used a product called "Gun Blue" from Outers which hunters normally use to clean rifles. I read about it in a metal detecting post some time ago and have used it successfully on several problem coins. I find it works really well in removing most deposits from silver and billon coins, but it does darken the silver somewhat. The benefit is that you only need to immerse the coin in solution for something like 5-10 seconds, then remove it and wipe it clean. There's no abrasion from scrubbing it etc. so this one now looks as fresh as the day it was minted (minus the shiny silver appearance). (I was able to get most of the rest of the deposits off of the reverse afterwards). https://www.amazon.com/Outers-47058-Gun-Blue-Kit/product-reviews/B0002INND6
Thanks for the info @romismatist. I used the amazon link and it seems that "Gun Blue" is currently unavailable. Bummer :-( At Amazon it says: "Currently unavailable. We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock."
I BELIEVE that Amazon is dropping all gun products and accessories. You may have to try a gun accessories site...
RI Volusian 251-253 CE AR Tet Antioch mint Eagle - son of Treb Gallus RI Salonina wife of Gallienus 254-268 CE AE Ant 3.61g 20mm Rome mint 267-268 CE crescent Deer Walking delta RIC V 16
It's not my nicest one, but it's my only photographed one. I also only have a couple of Salonina coins. I'm sure the OP is aware of the BD. I've seen it on some uncleaned Parthian coins, but I'm not sure how it affects billon coins. It would also be interesting to know how many shiny Ants came out of the ground with some fuzz. Probably more than we think. A stable, uncleaned 'silver' Antoninianus is one which has eluded my small uncleaned collection. One kind of like Romismatist's 'before' coin. Volusian. 251-253 AD. AR Antoninianus (4.10 gm, 24mm). Rome mint. Struck 251/2 AD. Obv.: IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev.: PAX AVGG, Pax standing left, holding branch in her right hand and transverse scepter with her left; in field to right, star. Cohen 71; RIC 180. I really enjoy buying coins from the European dealer who sold me this one. However, most of the silver coins are shiny, which isn't so bad on common Ant's, but I think this one was one of the rare exceptions. I purchased it for the oversized flan.
Judging from some Severan-era uncleaneds, https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/zu...ia_domna_silver_denarius/2050247/Default.aspx it's more common than we'd think. I wonder what dealers do to clean them up?
Ah, cool. It must have been a trick of the light. The photo made the green look bright and fuzzy. The portrait is quite handsome.
I know that I am really bad a taking photos. I try to use the adjust color tool to make them a bit clearer but it is probably not working well for me
