First of all, say Saloninus Antoninianus quickly 5 times. That’s a lot of Ns and Is. So, a quick background. I have a batch of unidentified Roman coins that I look at every so often. I pick a few out and try to put pen to paper, so to speak. Today’s coin intrigued me. If you have ever read anything I have posted about IDing coins, I usually start with the wrong idea and work myself out of that until I get the final answer. Today was only a minor detour. I looked at this piece and clearly saw VALERIANVS and a portrait of what could easily be Valerianus II. So, I went with that. But, there is no legend that matches with what I was potentially seeing as the complete legend. So, I decided to do the smart thing and actually get the whole legend - P COR SAL VALERIANVS CAES. That was not tough, but concerning the back legend, I was completely drawing a blank. It was not “normal.” So, google the legend and get the ruler and head for Sear. Well, Mr. Sear solved the riddle. Sear 10765 Saloninus Antoninianus. This appears to be the only use of this legend, maybe even front and back legend, but I don’t know. Also, the piece in question does have a cool story, so here are the pics. Obverse/Reverse/Sear reference
Great find, not a type you see often. Saloninus (258 - 260 A.D.) AR Antoninianus O: SALON VALERIANVS CAES, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: PIETAS AVG, priestly implements - littus, knife, jug, simpulum, and sprinkler. Rome 4.3g 21.1mm RIC V 9, RSC IV 4 Saloninus (258 - 260 A.D.) Egypt, Alexandria Billon Tetradrachm O: ΠO ΛI KOP CA OVAΛεPIANOC K CεB, Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right. R: Alexandria standing left, wearing turreted crown, holding bust of Sarapis and scepter; L Z (Year 7) across field. Alexandria Mint (259 - 260 A.D.) 10.65g 23mm Köln 3007; Dattari (Savio) 5353 var. (obv. legend); K&G 93.9; Emmett 3774.7 Published on Wildwinds Saloninus (258 - 260 A.D.) Egypt, Alexandria Billon Tetradrachm O: ΠO ΛI KOP CA OVAΛεPIANOC K CεB, Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right. R: Eagle standing left, head turned, holding wreath, in field, L-S. Year 6 (258 - 259 A.D.) Alexandria Mint 12.6g 23mm Köln 3002; Dattari (Savio) 5376; K&G 93.3; Emmett 3776.6 (R2)
Just sharing: "Scholarship has adopted the position that all coins (Caesar or Augustus) bearing 'SAL' or 'SALON' belong to Saloninus while all coins of a Caesar not so marked belong to Valerian II. Since we have no evidence that Valerian II was ever Augustus, coins not marked as belonging to Saloninus are attributed to Valerian I. These distinctions were not made during the last century when Cohen (among others) attributed many coins of Valerian II to Saloninus and some youthful looking Valerian I issues to Valerian II."
Bronze Coin (AE Antoninianus) minted at Antioch for SALONINUS, son of GALLIENUS, as Caesar, in 256 A.D. Obv. SALON.VALERIANVS.NOB.CAES.: rad. bust dr., r. Rev. SPES.PVBLICA.: SALONINUS, in military attire, stg. l., holding sceptre in r. hand and extending l. to receive flower from Spes advancing r. before him, lifting her skirt behind. RCS #3083. RSCIV #95. RICV #36. DVM #15. RCSVIII #10795.
My example of the OP type. Obv:– P COR SAL VALERIANVS CAES, Radiate, draped bust right Rev:– DII NVTRITORES, Jupiter presenting to prince a small Victory Minted in Antioch. A.D. 257-258 Reference:– RIC 35. RSC 21.
"Saloninus Antoninianus that I may not have seen before?" mmh... interesting post, interesting coin (from a period I find especially interesting). But I kept thinking I had seen this before... Found! In an old cigar box in which I store some second choice coins, I found it. I don't remember where I got it, probably in the Middle East many decades ago. It's the same one, the poor Saloninus Caesar, with the Dii nutritori reverse, minted in Antioch or some military mint in North Syria. I took my smartphone, food pic mode, click! and some cropping: here it is. mrbreeze has got one specimen, maridvnvm too, I too... This coin may have an unusual reverse but it's not rare.
Saloninus coins were only minted for a short period of time, with limited precious metal supplies, and in deplorable conditions so most of his coins are in pour condition. Here are a couple from my collection: Authority: Saloninus Denomination: AR Antoninianus Mint: Lugdunum (258 AD) Obverse: SALON VALERIANVS CAES, Radiate, draped bust right Reverse: SPES PVBLICA, Spes, draped, walking right, holding flower in right hand and raising robe with left hand References: RIC V, Part i, 13 Authority: Saloninus Denomination: AR Antoninianus Mint: Lugdunum (256 AD) Obverse: SALON VALERIANVS CAES, Radiate, draped bust right Reverse: PIETAS AVG, sacrificial implements References: RIC V, Part i, 9
