I'm taking tomorrow off of work, so tonight is like my Friday night and I've been using the time tonight to look at a few new Alexandrian tetradrachms: 1 Valerian, 2 Gallienus, and 1 Valerian II. I decided to pull out the other tets of this family and explore the group (10 in total) chronologically. Here are two of father and son, Valerian and Gallienus, RY 3 with matching Eirene reverse: Next is grandfather and grandson, Valerian and Valerian II, RY 4 with Homonoia and Eagle, respectively. The Valerian II came with the original handwritten collectors tag where he had the correct obverse legend written, but sadly he had the wrong ID (Saloninus). Valerian II was killed in 258 AD, not long after those 2 coins were struck. Next comes my RY 9 of Gallienus with Eagle reverse with palm. This was issued about 1-2 years after the death of his father, Valerian, in 260 AD. One year later comes this Gallienus coin, RY 10 with Eagle reverse also with palm... Seems to be a trend, so maybe there's a meaning? This next coin, a new one just delivered yesterday, is Gallienus RY 11, but it has an interesting reverse error where the date is retrograde. Cool, huh? Next is the great wife of Gallienus, Cornelia Salonina, with two coins of the same type: RY 12 with Eirene reverse, with palm. And finally, a (rough) Gallienus from the last year to issue a coin before his death in 268 AD, a RY 15 with Eagle reverse with palm. Anyways, that's my little timeline journey through the Valerian family via Alexandrian tetradrachms. Do you have any that fill the gaps above? Do you have one of the missing grandson? Or anything else you find relevant? Please post!
Very cool, @Justin Lee ! Interesting dynastic sub-collection. I have only three Alexandrian tets from this dynasty, even though I have a lot of antoniniani of the reign. There's this one of Gallienus, with a nice portrait on the obverse and a ... umm ... less well-preserved reverse: Gallienus, AD 253-268. Roman provincial billon tetradrachm, 8.70 g, 23 mm. Egypt, Alexandria, AD 266/7.Obv: AVT K Π ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC CЄB, laureate and cuirassed bust right. Rev: Homonoia standing left, raising hand and holding double cornucopia; L IΔ (= regnal year 14) before, palm frond behind. Refs: Dattari (Savio) 5246; BMCG 2186; Cologne 2937; Milne 4136; RCV 10580; Emmett 3816.14; K&G 90.93. And a couple of Salonina with the eagles facing in different directions between the years, just as you noticed for the Gallienus years 9 and 10: Cornelia Salonina, AD 253-268. Roman billon tetradrachm; 8.96 g, 21.7 mm. Egypt, Alexandria, AD 266-267. Obv: ΚΟΡΝΗΛΙΑ CΑΛѠΝЄΙΝΑ CЄΒ, diademed and draped bust, right. Rev: Eagle standing left, wings open, holding wreath in beak, L IΔ before, palm behind. Refs: Dattari 5345; BMCG 2278; Köln 2977; Milne 4151; RCV 1071. Cornelia Salonina, AD 253-268. Roman billon tetradrachm; 9.95 g, 22.3 mm. Egypt, Alexandria, AD 267-268. Obv: ΚΟΡΝΗΛΙΑ CΑΛѠΝЄΙΝΑ CЄΒ, diademed and draped bust, right. Rev: Eagle standing right, wings open, holding wreath in beak, L IЄ before, palm behind. Refs: Dattari 5346; BMCG 2280; Köln 2983; Milne 4189; RCV 10723.
Nice set! Love the Gallienus with the retrograde date. I adopted Steve's wonderful Saloninus and will show it off any chance I get. SALONINUS Potin Tetradrachm. 13.0g, 24mm. EGYPT, Alexandria, RY 7 of Valerian I and Gallienus (AD 259/60). Emmett 3777; Dattari (Savio) 5377. O: ΠO ΛI KOP CA VAΛЄPIANOC K CЄB, bareheaded, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: Eagle standing left, head right, holding wreath in beak; L Z (date) across field. Ex Stevex6 Collection (CNG E-311, 25 Sep 2013, lot 948); ex Robert M. Harlick Collection (CNG E-281, 20 June 2012, lot 253)
Great family group @Justin Lee Are the 2 Salonina coins a Reverse die match ? if not, they are close.
Nice Group! Here's a regnal year 13. Alexandria, Egypt. Gallienus tetradrachm Obv: AVT K P LIK GALLIHNOC CEB, laureate, draped bust right. Rev: L-IG, eagle standing right with wreath in its beak, palm branch behind. Regnal year 13.
Very nice set, @Justin Lee ! Very cool. As you know, I really do not focus on the Empire after Augustus, so my collection is sparse in this area. I do not have Egyptian versions of this group. Although, I really like your Egyptian coins!
GALLIENUS - Tetradrachm Obv: AVT K Π ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC CЄB, Bust right. Rev: ЄNATOY L, Eagle standing left, palm branch behind. Alexandria, 261-262 Dattari 5286 Emmett 3802 (this coin)
The retrograde date is awesome! The only coin I have duplicates one already pictured (Valerian, year 4, Homonoia). But it is ex @Justin Lee and treasured as such.
That is a TREMENDOUS portrait, RC! I love his beards on these tets during these middle reign years! I was hoping you'd post it, Z!! I always love seeing it! I'm sure Steve misses it, but is happy it's in good hands. I hope he's still hanging in there and doing well! I feel compelled to post my only ex SteveX: Very stoic portrait on your tet (almost reminds me of Claudius II portraits), and a very visually prominent date! I certainly do know!! And I have to wipe my jowls everytime you post something! But that's fine with me! That is a VERY nice tet with a SUPERB portrait, @Alwin!! Thanks, SA! And NOW I know who ended up getting that one!
@Justin Lee, a nice family haul, especially like the paired father and son RY3, and the Valentinian II, the two Cornelia Saloninas, retrograde legend...Nevermind, I like them all. I think I may have the Alexandrian tetradrachm bug. I don't have a Valentinian I or II (yet), but I have added a couple of other family members in the last 6 -8 months : Gallienus, 253-268, BI Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria, AD 266-267 Obv: AVT K ΠΛI K ΓAΛΛIHNOC CεB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev: Eagle standing left, head right, holding wreath in beak behind, palm before, LIΔ Ref: Dattari 5283 Roman Provincial, Salonina, wife of Gallienus, Augusta AD 254-268, BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt, dated RY 6 of Valerian I and Gallienus (AD 258/259) Obv: KOPNHΛIA CAΛѠNЄINA CEB, draped bust right, wearing stephane Rev: Eagle standing left, head right, holding wreath in beak; L ς (date) across fields. Ref: Köln 2964; Dattari (Savio) 5321; K&G 91.20; Emmett 3747.6 Size: 12.29g, 22.5mm and the most recent one of "Mr. Decade" which you've seen and will certainly make the top 10 for the year (and has a shot at #1): Egypt, Alexandria, Gallienus, 253-268 Tetradrachm circa 262-263 (year 10) Size: 23mm, 10.63g Obv: Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right Rev: ΔЄKA/ЄTHPI/CKV/PIOV in four lines within laurel wreath; below, L I Ref: Geissen 2915 (this coin cited) Dattari-Savio Pl. 272, 5273 (this coin) Perhaps due to the continual warfare of the times, much of the ancient world was struck with the plague, probably bubonic, in the early 250's. It may have begun among the Germanic invaders or in the slums of Alexandria where, according to Gibbon's estimate, half the population succumbed. The illness reached pandemic proportions among the troops (killing among others the emperor Hostilian), and returned home with the soldiers. At one point five thousand people per day died in Rome. Agriculture was particularly affected by the continual warfare and illness. - Percival, C.W. (1992), The Age of Gallienus
LOL, I DO have a Valerian from ALEXANDRIA! Here we go, a shell game for ya! ALEXANDRIA TROAS... (Kinda up the road...) RI Valerian I 253-260 CE AE 20mm Alexandria Troas mint Horse Grazing
