During the joint reign of Valerianus/Gallienus emperors, severals usurpers attempted to take over the imperial power. After the capture of Valerianus by the persians,, pursuant to a failed campaign against the Sassanids, Gallienus remained as sole emperor. Fulvius Macrianus (senior), his prefect in the East arranged in 260 AD for his two sons Macrianus junior and Quietus, to be first appointed with the title of Augustus, then, to be proclaimed joint emperors by the Army. While Quietus remained in the East, Macrianus senior and his son Macrianus junior marched against Gallienus in the West and were eventually defeated and killed in Illyrium, 261 AD, by Gallienus' lieutenant Aureolus. Shortly thereafter,Quietus was himself killed in Emesa by Odeanatus prince of Palmyra in 261AD. The coins of the two brother emperors are scarced, minted in base metal, struck essentially in the mint of Samosata (now in Turkey) and, also in Alexandria AE tetradrachms.
Hi @Bing. I would really like to see what you determine is a 'rough' coin. That would be instructive for this new student. (Even by private message)
Very nice for the type...they can be a bit pricey in almost any grade. Sadly, I haven't been able to acquire one of Quietus at my preferred price---but I will
Gallienus / Valerianus RI Gallienus 253-268 CE Ant Milan mint Laetitia RI Valerian I 253-260 CE AE 20mm Alexandria Troas mint Horse Grazing The Guy who killed Valerian: Sassanian Shapur I 240-272 CE AE Tetradrachm 10.78g 27mm Ctesiphon mint phase 1a mural crown korymbos - fire altar type 2 SNS IIa1-1a And that death of an Emperor caused a RUCKUS in the Empire that enabled this CREEP of a bean-counter to make himself Emperor: Macrianus, Roman emperor (usurper), summer 260 - early summer 261 Base AR 22. 6:00. 4.42 grams. IMP C FVL MACRIANVS PF AVG SPES PVBLICA * in field left Struck at an uncertain Eastern mint. Typical surfaces. (In this period the metal is rarely better than this.) Sear 3.10811. RIC 13, page 581, "R2" (very rare). (Not sure if there is a Macrianus Jr / Minor coin, or it is untouchable...) Here is Macrianus other son and bro to Jr / Minor... RI Quietus usurper 260-261 CE Ant 3-74g Samasota mint Indulgentia patera scepter RIC V 5 And, yeah this guy Aureolus, under Gallienus kills that Macrianus creep. (Later he supports Postumus...hence this coin: RI Postumus struck by Aureolus 268 CE Revolt of Milan Concordia I think this is why I am not a great fan of the later Empire... bunch of self-serving monsters getting thousands or whole Armies killed for their personal gain or need for control (yeah, yeah, I know that is the Human Condition, but the Empire truly edifies that...)
I've got a beat up Macrianus too from an uncleaned hoard. Good ones go for $500 or more so I was lucky to get it for $2.00. Whoever was sorting through the hoard missed that one.
I forgot to post my example of Macrianus... Silver antoninianus, RSC IV 11, RIC V 11, SRCV III 10807, VF, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, weight 2.899g, maximum diameter 24.0mm, die axis 180o, obverse IMP C FVL MACRIANVS P F AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right; reverse ROMAE AETERNAE (to eternal Rome), Roma, helmeted, seated left on shield, Victory in extended right, spear in left; rare
There are many things I fail to understand about the coinage of the usurper brothers (including why people want to pay so much for some of the ugly ones). Why are there categories known for one brother but not the other? Why do people so disrespect the Provincials and pay so little for them when they are less common that the antoniniani? The ants are only made in the names and faces of the boys. Is it possible that the Provincials might have been intended to show the father (show me a Quietus of this issue)? This coin is from the alliance of Nicaea and Byzantion. I just realized I have the reverse upside down so I join the crowd in showing no respect to the coins. It shows a burning altar (now top) flanked by two torches or lanterns. Mine has legible Byzantion but garbled Nicaea. Reshoot time!
This coin of Gallienus was struck in Viminacium during the joint reign with Valerian. Reverse shows Diana advancing right holding a long torch with both hands. Reverse legend is "Felicitas Saeculi". RIC 291. My coin is a bronze antoninianus whereas the only listed one for this type is white silver. What do you think ?
Nice coins PMONNEY, and write up. My only Macrianus, provincial Bithynia Nicaea city walls. 260-261 AD, AE 25mm, 7.2gm.
