I received these 3 Gallienus in the mail today. When I was looking, I was amazed at just how many different and interesting reverses were minted during the reign of Gallienus. I've seen his zoo series but didn't know about a lot of his other ones. I'd love to see just how many different reverses we could come up with between all of us. Here are my recent three to kick things off: Gallienus Billon Antoninianus Cyzicus mint Obverse: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate, draped bust right Reverse: ROMAE AETERNAE, Roma seated left on shield, holding Victory and spear. Star in upper left field. Gallienus AE antoninianus Antioch Obverse: GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right. Reverse: SALVS AVG, Apollo standing left, holding downward-pointing laurel branch in right hand, left arm leaning on tripod. PXV in exergue Gallienus AR antoninianus Antioch, 266-267 AD Obverse: GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate and draped bust right Reverse: P M TR P XV P P, Neptune standing left, right foot on small prow, right forearm resting on knee, holding a tall trident behind him. VIIC dot in exergue
Your second and third coins are neat because they are dated. PXV in the exergue is the Tribuncian year (A.D. 267) VIIC in the exergue means that this coin was issue during the seventh and last consulate of Gallienus; which began in A.D. 266.
Here's a SOLI CONS AVG type. Gallienus, AE antoninianus, Rome mint. Sole reign. Obverse: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right Reverse: SOLI CONS AVG, Pegasus springing right. Officina letter A offset to right of exergue. Reference: Goebl 712; RIC V-1, Rome 283 var (mintmark A); Sear 10362.
Not including the zoo and mythical creature reverses, you are correct. Some very interesting reverses.
That last "silver" one is really interesting for the left-facing portrait with spear on shoulder @Bing. Is that Mars or Virtus?
It's neither, at least according to my catalog: GALLIENUS Antoninianus OBVERSE: GALLIENVS dot P dot F dot AVG, radiate, cuirassed bust left, holding spear over shoulder and shield on left arm REVERSE: VIRT GALLIENI AVG, Emperor walking right, holding transverse sceptre (point forwards) and round shield, treading down fallen enemy lying on ground before him Struck at Milan, 258-259 AD 2.94g, 22mm RIC 54 left[j]
Here's a Spes Gallienus A.D. 259- 260 AR Antoninianus 20x21mm 3.7gm IMP GALLIENVS P AVG; radiate and cuirassed bust right. SPES PVBLICA; Spes walking left, holding flower and raising robe. RIC V Mediolanum 403; Göbl 827q Viminacium
heres my only 2.... Gallienus, AE antoninianus. Rome, sole reign. 257-258 AD. IMP GALLIENVS AVG, radiate, cuirassed bust right / DIANA FELIX, Diana walking right, drawing bow and holding arrow, hound at foot. RIC V-1 Rome 174 var (bust type); Goebl 920L (Milan). 24.74mm 3.0g RIC V 174v Gallienus AR Antoninianus. Asian mint. GALLIENVS PF AVG, radiated cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS AVGVSTI, Hercules standing right holding lion's skin and leaning on club set on rock. Star in right field. Cohen 1321. RIC V 672 21.84mm, 3.2g
Gallienus is often shunned because of how common his coins are, and also how (unfairly) poor his historical reputation was. He had many interesting reverses and is quite worthy of a collection. Having built the bulk of my collection from job lots, I have probably handled several hundred of his coins, easily. I mostly go for portraits, so here are the ones I couldn't part with (Is that a slanted X or a subversive christian in the officina?) And this one I did sell, but it qualifies as a more interesting reverse... SAECVLARES AVG although history has forgotten what games took place in Antioch
Gallienus (253 - 268 A.D.) AR Antoninianus O: IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate and cuirassed bust right. R: IOVI CONSERVA, Jupiter standing left, head turned right, holding scepter in right and thunderbolt in left. 5.1g 24mm RIC 143F (Rome) Sear 10237 Gallienus (253 - 268 A.D.) AR Antoninianus O: GALLIENVS P F AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right. R: DEO MARTI, Mars in temple. Colonia Agrippinensis (Cologne) mint, 258-259 A.D. 21mm 3.45g RIC 10 Reverse Die Clash Gallienus (253 - 268 A.D.) AR Antoninianus O: IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS AVG : Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right, seen from behind. R: PIETATI AVGG : Pietas standing facing, head left, left arm leaning on column, vertical long scepter in right. Antioch, 253-255 A.D. 3.95g 22mm RIC V, Part I, 295; Göbl 1563d Published on Wildwinds!
I have several dozen coins of Gallienus, but here are a few reverse types that haven't been shown yet. Gallienus, AD 253-268. Roman Billon Antoninianus, 4.40 g, 23.5 mm. Samosata, AD 255-256. Obv: IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS AVG, radiate and draped bust, right. Rev: RESTITVT ORIENTIS, Tyche, left, presenting wreath to emperor, right, who holds spear in left. Refs: RIC 448; RSC 902; Cohen 902; RCV 10341; Hunter p. xlvii; Göbl 1677m. Gallienus, AD 253-268. Roman billon antoninianus, 4.26 g, 18.8 mm, 12 h. Antioch, 15th emission, AD 266-268. Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: AETERNITAS AVG, Saturn standing right, holding harpa in left hand; PXV in exergue. Refs: RIC 606; Göbl 1662i; Cohen 44; RCV 10170. Gallienus, AD 253-268. Roman Billon Antoninianus, 2.84 g, 21.2 mm, 11 h. Antioch, AD 265-266. Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: AETERNITAS AVG, Lupa Romana (she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus), right; branch in exergue. Refs: RIC 628; Göbl 1628e; Cohen 46; RCV 10171 var. My favorite VIRTVS: Gallienus, AD 253-268. Roman billon antoninianus, 3.61 g, 21.1 mm, 12 h. Cologne, AD 257-258. Obv: GALLIENVS P F AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: VIRTVS AVGG, Gallienus in military attire standing right, holding spear and standard. Refs: RIC 58F; Göbl 8821; Cohen 1309; RCV 10413; Hunter 58; ERIC II 1030. And my favorite Gallienus zoo coin of all! Gallienus, 253-268 AD. Roman Æ Antoninianus, 2.63 g, 20.8 mm, 5 h. Rome Mint, 10th emission, 267-268 AD. Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right. Rev: LIBERO P CONS AVG, tiger walking left, B in exergue. Refs: RIC 230K; Göbl 713b; Cohen 586; RCV 10281; Cunetio 1341; Hunter 112
I picked up 8 in the same sale, and like @furryfrog02, mine were delivered today as well. MINERVA AVG // VIIC• Minerva, helemeted, draped, standing left, leaning on shield with right hand and holding spear in left hand. PROVIDENTIA AVG Mercury, nude except for cloak draped over left arm, standing left, holding purse in right hand and caduceus in left hand. IVBENTVS AVG // VIIC• Gallienus, standing left, holding Victory in right hand and spear in left hand. LAETITIA AVGG Laetitia, draped, standing left, holding wreath in right hand and anchor in left hand. LIBERALITAS AVGG Liberalitas, draped, standing left, holding tessera in right hand and cornucopiae in left hand. VENRI VICTRICI Venus, draped, standing left, holding helmet in right hand and spear and shield in left hand. VIRTVS AVG // VIIC• Hercules, nude except for cloak draped over left arm, standing right, holding club in right hand and apple in left hand. And my favorite, Mercury with what appears to be a bloody heart??? Sinister!! FIDES AVG // PXV Mercury, nude except for cloak draped over left arm, standing left, holding purse in right hand and caduceus in left hand.
Very interesting reverses in thread. I will post two victories: VICTORIA GERMAN VIC GALL AVG For the second coin, I'd like to know if it's related to any historical event.
I am developing a soft spot for Gallienus. Aside from a recent "Zoo" one I posted last week (Panther rev), here are a couple of different ones I have, and in better condition:- GALLIENUS (AD 267) Rev; P M TR P XV PP. Neptune, standing with foot on prow, holding trident in left hand. VIIC in ex RIC V Gallienus 603 And this beauty. GALLIENUS (253-254 AD) RIC V Joint reign 455 Rev: VIRTUS AVGG. Valerian standing rt, holding globe and sceptre, facing Gallienus, standing left, holding Victory and sceptre, wreath above.
Gallienus AD 255- 256 AR Antoninianus 22x24mm 3.1gm IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS P F AVG; Radiate and draped bust right. VOTA ORBIS; two Victories affixing shield inscribed [SC] to palm tree. RIC Vi Antioch 460; Göbl Samosata 1688m
Gallienus, AR Antoninianus, 258-259, Joint Reign, Cologne mint GALLIENVS dot P dot F dot AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust left, holding spear in right hand over shoulder, shield in left. GERMANICVS MAX V, Trophy (with two small shields) between two captives. RIC V-I, 18