Reunited After 1,752 Years!

I picked up this Alexandrian Tetradrachm of Salonina for a song, I think because the seller listed it poorly and I was the only bidder. While all that is well and good, the better part is that I can now reunite her with her husband, Gallienus, after his murder at the siege of Milan in 268.

From what I've read, there are two theories as to Cornelia Salonina's fate:
1) She was spared (not likely in my opinion)
2) She was murdered along with her husband and other family members. Makes the most sense to me.

The coolest part of these coins is that they were both minted in the last year of Gallienus' reign, so they are both 1,752 (give or take a few months! lol) old.


Salonina
Year 15 (267/268 AD)
Potin Tetradrachm
Alexandria, Egypt
Obverse: KOΡNHΛIA CAΛΩNEINA CEB, draped bust right
Reverse: L-IE, eagle standing left, wreath in beak, palm-branch behind


Gallienus
Potin Tetradrachm
Alexandria, Egypt
Year 15 = 267-268 AD
Obverse: AVT K Π ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC CEB, laureate and cuirassed bust right
Reverse: Eagle standing facing, head left with wreath in beak; palm branch left, LIE to right
ex: @Justin Lee


Thanks for looking and feel free to post anything that is in any way connected!

 

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Congrats on your "steal"

 

Hey now, I paid for it!

 

Nice duo @furryfrog02 . I didn't know you are a Rome Antique guy.....

 

I’m not THAT old

 

Salonina the Fair, with a good portrait

EGYPT, Alexandria

Billon Tetradrachm, 23mm, 9.8 grams, 12h

Dated RY 15 (A.D. 267-268)

Obverse: KOPNHALA CAAONEINA CEB;
Diademed and draped bust right.

Reverse: Eagle standing right, holding wreath in beak; palm in left field, L IE to right

Reference: Koln 2983; Dattari 5346; Milne 4189; Curtis 1642; Emmett 3854

 

That is probably the best looking Salonina I have seen on a coin. they usually seem to be very weak in strike and even then the quality of the bust is bad.

 

Congrats on their reunion! And they are both RY 15!

I have a handful of these 2, so I'll post my favorites...


Gallienus, Ruled 253-268 AD
BL Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria
Struck 261/262 AD
Obverse: AVT K Π ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC CEB, laureate and cuirassed bust right, seen from front, slight drapery on left shoulder.
Reverse: Eagle standing left, holding wreath in beak, palm over shoulder, ENATOV to left and L to right (year 9=261/262 AD).
References: Emmett 3802, Dattari 5286, Köln 2908


Cornelia Salonina, Wife of Gallienus who ruled 253-268 AD
AE Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria
Struck 264/265 AD
Obverse: KOPNHΛIA CAΛΩNЄINA CЄB, diademed and draped bust of Salonina right.
Reverse: Eirene standing left, holding olive branch and sceptre; palm before, IB/L (date), (RY 12 = 264/265 AD).
References: Köln 2969; Dattari 5331; Milne 4102; Emmett 3855

 

Those are both great! Gallienus' beard is gnarly! and Salonina's portrait is really detailed!
I would like to add some different reverses to my Alexandrian Tet collection, especially some with more of an Egyptian flare. So far, I've just got eagles and Nikes...not that I'm complaining

 

I don't have a matching pair, but here is my happy couple

 

Mine is a year older at year 14. Tyche is hardly special compared to Nike and eagles.

It bothers me a little that there are no year 16 coins since the Alexandrian year started the end of August (29th normally but 30th in a leap year). Gallienus is said to have died in September (date?) but word would not have reached Egypt immediately so it seems that there should be rare LIS coins.

 

Hi,

Great coins so far! My Solonina has a bit of a lead foot.



COMMENTS:
Marcel Jungfleisch (1879-1958) was one of the leading numismatists in the twentieth century. He was from Cairo, Egypt and wrote extensively on Egyptian numismatics. He was a professor of Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers and a member of the Institute of Egypt. His extensive writings covered Islamic bronze weights from Egypt, Ayyubid glass jetons, Islamic Art Network, Roman Egyptian coins, Nubians in Egypt (1946), Nomes of Egypt (1946), and wrote for the Revue Numismatique in 1955. Sotheby's sold his collection in two vast sales in 1972.

16 Feb, 1972 M Jungfleisch collection Part 1: Ancient and Middle Eastern Coins, and a Fine Numismatic Library. 239 lots. 24 pages + 2 plates. 156 x 246mm. Sotheby.​

​

16 Mar, 1972 Marcel Jungfleisch collection Part 2: The Coinage of Roman Alexandria together with Ancient, English and Foreign Coins. 239 lots. 44 pages + 4 b&w plates. 156 x 246mm. Sotheby.​

This coin is Ex Alex G Malloy (NY, USA): Auction 47 (17 Oct 1997), Lot #359

And the hubby:



- Broucheion

 

18.1grams???

 

Cool couple @Ryro

Mine was already reunited when I bought them from our own @Barry Murphy


Gallienus, Tetradrachm - Alexandria mint, year 14 (AD 266/270)
AVTKTTLIKGALLIHNOCCEB, laureate and cuirassed bust right
Eagle standing left, head right, with wreath in beak. LIdelta in left field, palm in right field
9.60 gr 22 mm
Ref : Emmett # 3804, RCV # 10582
Ex Barry P Murphy



Salonina, Tetradrachm Alexandria mint, year 15 (AD 267/268)
KOPNHLIACALWNEINACEB, diademed and draped bust right
Eagle standing right, holding wreath in beak. LIE in right field
11.61 gr 22 mm
Ref : Emmett # 3854, RCV # 10723
Ex Barry P Murphy

Q

 

I agree that the eagles are sort of plain vanilla. If you want the really cool scenes on the reverse they start around the time of Nero and continue on til the third century, with the 2nd century being the sweet spot with Hadrian and Antoninus Pius...

 

I do have an Antoninus Pius but it is a pretty vanilla background as well. I love the ones with the Egyptian imagery.

 

SALONINA


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



RI Gallienus 253-268 CE Ant Abundantia S-secunda

 

Gallienus had such a gnarly looking beard - at least based off his coins. Part of me wishes I had a time machine to be able to go back and see just how amazingly gross it was.

 

Looks OK actually on this sestertius. But probably it got more gnarly over time.