This coin has a reverse legend unique to Salonina, wife of Gallienus (253-268) 21-20 mm. 2.74 grams. SALONINA AVG Bust of Salonina right on crescent. AVGVSTA IN PACE, Salonina as Pax, seated left, holing olive branch and transverse scepter, P in exergue. The obverse is well struck. The reverse is crowded and weaker, but legible. Few coins of Salonina are well-struck from unworn dies on both sides. The reverse legend can be interpreted as having a Christian reference and long ago was sometimes interpreted as alluding to Christian leanings of Gallienus. However, other evidence for such leanings is lacking and modern scholars now seem to reject any Christian reference, without, as far as I know, being able to explain why this legend appeared at this time. Show us a coin of Salonina, or anything related.
Very nice, @Valentinian ! SALONINA RI Empress Salonina wife of Gallienus 254-268 CE AE Antoninianus 3.61g 20mm Rome mint 267-268 CE crescent Deer / Stag Walking delta RIC 15
SALONINA Antoninianus OBVERSE: SALONINA AVG, diademed and draped bust right, resting on crescent REVERSE: DEAE SEGETIAE, statue of Segetiae or Ceres, nimbate, standing facing in four-columned temple, both hands raised Struck at Lugdunum, 258 AD 3.1g, 22mm RIC 5 SALONINA Antoninianus OBVERSE: SALONINA AVG, diademed draped bust right on a crescent REVERSE: VENVS GENETRIX, Venus standing left, holding apple and sceptre, Cupid at her feet, VI in field Struck at Rome, 260-8 AD 3.3g, 17mm RIC 30; RSC 121a; Sear5 10657. SALONINA Antoninianus OBVERSE: SALONINA AVG, diademed draped bust right on a crescent REVERSE: FECVNDITAS AVG, Fecunditas, standing left, holding cornucopiae, child at feet left, officina letter D to right Struck at Rome, 260-8 AD Sole Reign of Gallienus 2.1g, 19mm RIC 5A, D (Gallienus)
Obv: Salonina bust facing right. Legend: KOPNHΛIACAΛωNЄINA. Dotted border. REV: Elpis standing facing left holding sprig in right hand. Left hand holds up chiton. In left field: palm branch; In right field IΓ above L. Dotted border. Size: 24x25 mm Weight: 16.10 g Axis: 12hr EM-4286.13 (UNLISTED YEAR); Geissen-2970 var: Year 12 Billon; Dattari-5332 var: Billon. Ex Sotheby (16 Mar 1972) - Marcel Jungfleische Collection. - Broucheion
This coin has many variations in obverse and reverse legends. Here is one with a shorter reverse legend: Cornelia Salonina, AD 253-268. Roman AE Antoninianus, 3.25 g, 21.5 mm. Mediolanum (Milan) mint, AD 260-268. Obv: SALONINA AVG, diademed and draped bust right, on crescent. Rev: AVG IN PACE, Salonina seated left, holding olive branch and transverse scepter; S in exergue. Refs: RIC 58 (sole reign); Cohen 17; RCV 10626; Göbl 1305r; Hunter 25.
Have one very common Salonina, nothing special here, I just like her diademed hair. I think she is usually portrayed with a beautiful long neck. Antoninianus, Rome, 264 - 265 AD; struck under the authority of Gallienus 18 mm, 2.79 g Ref.: RIC V Salonina (2) 31; RSC 129a; RCV III 10660; Ob.: SALONINA AVG Bust of Salonina to r., draped, diademed on crescent Rev.: VENVS VICTRIX Venus, draped, standing left with shield, holding helmet in right hand and scepter in left hand; no mint mark
@Valentinian, an interesting and well preserved coin - Francesco Gnecchi in 1908 was among the challengers of the Christian reference, with the explanation: "This interpretation appears, to me, strained, at least, and that of Augusta sotto le spoglie della Pace appears to me a rather more obvious meaning." more context at the link above. Here are two coins of Salonina - Juno Conservat: Salonina, AR Antoninianus, 260-268 AD, Rome Obv: SALONINA AVG - Diademed, draped bust right on crescent, hair weaved in rows with long plait carried up the back of head and tucked under diadem. Rev: IVNO CONSERVAT - Juno standing left, patera in right hand, scepter in left, peacock at feet N in right field. and Venus Victrix Salonina, Augusta, AD 254-268, Antoninianus, Rome mint, Struck AD 255-257 Obv: Draped bust right, wearing stephane, set on crescent Rev: Venus Victrix standing left, holding helmet and scepter; shield set on ground to left. RIC V 37 corr. (Venus described as seated)
Can you clarify this for me? I don't understand what about the reverse legend was thought to be associated with Christianity. (Edited: never mind... @Sulla80 explained it )
Very interesting reverse legend. Can't say I was aware of it until just now. For me, it was all about the portrait: I don't have it imaged yet, but I also recently acquired a FECVNDITAS reverse, theorized to depict (or at least commemorate) the ephemeral younger brother of Valerian II and Saloninus. Also regarding potentially subtle Christian themes on pre- Edict of Milan coins, this one is always a favorite Rome mint, 10th officina DIANAE CONS AVG where the officina X was "accidentally" engraved at an angle so it resembles a cross
On this coin type, minted in Milan AD 262-3, there is an article that I am wondering if someone from CT might have or can locate on these coins: S.L. Cesano, Salonina Augusta in Pace, Rendiconti della Pontificia Accademia di Archeologia (RPAA), 25/26, 1949/1950, 105-121. Here's more information on the type from Blois, Lukas . The Policy of the Emperor Gallienus. Leiden: Brill, 1976.
Very interesting reverse on an excellent coin A sestertius for a change Salonina, Sestertius - Rome mint, AD 256-260 CORNELIA SALONINA AVG, Diademed and draped bust of Salonina right IVNO REGINA, Juno standing left, with patera and sceptre, SC in field 20.05 gr Ref : RIC # 46, RCV #10679, Cohen #62 Q
@Sulla80 , thanks for posting the informative Blois excerpt on this reverse legend. It seems that Occam's razor points towards an "apotheosis of the empress by identifying her with the personification of Pax" instead of a crypto-Christian reference. I bought this one for the mint and for the nice reverse. The obverse suffers from a worn out die – as @Valentinian pointed out in the original post, this appears to be rather typical for Salonina coins. Salonina, Roman Empire, BI antoninianus, 255–256 AD, Asian mint (Samosata or Antioch?). Obv: SALONINA AVG; bust of Salonina, diademed, draped, on crescent, r. Rev: ROMAE AETERNAE; Gallienus, standing r., receiving Victory from Roma, seated l., holding spear in l. hand. 21mm, 3.83g. Ref: RIC V Salonina 67. This one, on the other hand, was struck a bit weakly but from relatively fresh dies. Yet, the engraving on the obverse die unfortunately illustrates the expression "untalented" quite well... Salonina, Roman Empire, AE antoninianus, 267 AD, Siscia mint. Obv: SALONINA AVG; bust of Salonina, diademed, draped, on crescent, r. Rev: SALVS AVG; Salus, draped, standing r., feeding serpent held in arms. 23mm, 2.83g Ref: RIC V Salonina (2) 88.
