I just got this today. As with Dougs, I also have guilt with the price I paid. $5, $2.50 shipping. It also has some light silvering left which made it hard to photograph. It's not as rough, and shows better detail in hand. I know have a FH from each mint as well know. It has that hard red crust on it, but it think its going to stay there for now. Constantius II, 22 May 337 - 3 November 361 A.D. Bronze AE 2, D N CONSTAN-TIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right; reverse FEL TEMPRE-PARATIO, Star in left, soldier spearing Horseman, no beard, Phrygian helmet, clutching, Nicomedia 62/63, R I also picked up a cheap Valerian a couple days ago as well, haven check the references yet for it. Valerian I, October 253 - c. June 260 A.D. Billon antoninianus, Göbl MIR 1700l (Samosata), RIC V 287 (Antioch), SRCV III 9967 (uncertain Syrian mint), Fine or better, Syrian mint, 258 - 260 A.D.; obverse IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right; reverse RESTITVT ORIENTIS (restorer of the East), turreted female (the Orient) presenting wreath to the Emperor standing left holding spear, pellet in wreath above;
I am Valerian the CCXXXIV-th Could you please tell me where to buy the second one coin. For what price?
Nice pick-ups Randy! I'll post my most recent Valerian, which literally flew out of my store. Oh well, love 'em and leave 'em. 3. Valerian, 193/195/200 - 260 or 264 AR Antoninianus, 21mm, 3.4g, 6h; Rome mint, 256-7 AD Obv.: IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG; radiate, draped bust right Rev.: VICTORIA AVGG; Victory standing left, resting on shield and holding palm Reference: RIC 5(a) Valerian I 128 (p. 48)
That's a steal on the Constantius II randy. Good detail especially on the reverse. I mean, take a look at the detail on the horse's tail. The Valerian is very common, but, as you say, you got it pretty cheap. Here is one of mine: It's worn, but still has a lot of silver remaining. BTW, welcome Valerianis the CCXXXIV-th. And the coin I just posted I purchased for $5.20 in 2011.
Also, Randy: that's a category 4 FH: Horseman on horse slumping forward clutching horse's neck. I haven't seen many of those in such nice condition. Great catch.
Just was trying to joke a little bit about my relation to the emperor. I have searched on EBay and found Valerians for 30-100 USD.
I just took a look on Vcoins.com and found several Valerian coins under $10. They are worn like mine, but you get what you pay for, right?
TY. Yeah, I got pretty lucky with the FH. Like I said, only thing wrong with it is the red crusties. The Soldier's and horseman's faces' show a lot of detail in hand, and under a loop. I got the Valerian for 14.50 shipped from forumancientcoins.com, I had store credit and their having a sale, it would have been $28 shipped.
There may be no emperor for whom that is more right than Valerian. His joint reign with son Gallienus saw the lowest quality silver used for coins before they decided that a silver wash was needed. The wash enabled the use of an alloy with even less silver but one that was better suited for coins. The horrid billon of late Valerian did not wear well and often looks spongy. Some of Valerian's earlier coins were a bit better silver and don't look so porous. Some were horded in a way that the elements did not get to them. Unfortunately we see more of the poor ones for which $10 is not cheap. Style varies as well with the worst being just ugly. Nice Valerian can reach $100 but they really need to be very nice. None of mine are that nice!
I forgot to mention what appears to be die cracks, on the top of Constantius' head, and the 2nd up the horsemans nose and out his head(harder to see in the pic)
