Here is another one of my new coins courtesy of @John Anthony . This one was purchased at a bargain price, but in many ways it is a nice coin. Valerian, of course, was the first emperor to be captured live in battle with the Persians. The poor old guy was forced to serve as a footstool for Shapur when he decided to mount his horse. And according to one legend (not necessarily entirely accurate) he was stuffed upon his death and kept in his palace as a memento of the Persian victory over the Romans. So, without further ado, here is the coin: Valerian I, A.D. 253-260 AR Antoninianus, 21 mm, 3.8 grams, 12h Mediolanum mint, A.D. 253-255 Obverse: IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind Reverse: LAETITIA AVGG Laetitia standing left, holding wreath and rudder Reference: RIC Va 216, p. 55 I am also showing the relief at Naqsh-i-Rustam, Iran, depicting the captured Valerian, carved in a mountainside along the Great Silk Road, so all of the travelers going along the road would behold the glory of Shapur. Feel free to post any Valerians you have...thanks for looking.
I find him fun to acquire just because of his history. Valerian I (253 - 260 A.D.) Egypt, Alexandria Billon Tetradrachm O: AK Π L I OVALEPIANOC EVEVC; Laureate, cuirassed bust right. R: Eagle standing left, head right, wreath in beak. Regnal date L-Δ across fields (Year 4). Alexandria mint, 256 A.D. 23mm 10.3g Milne 3945 Emmett # 3764/4 Valerian I (253 - 260 A.D.) AR Antoninianus O: IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG, radiate, draped bust right. R: CONCORDIA EXERCIT, Concordia standing left holding patera and double cornucopiae. 21mm 3g RIC 81, Cohen 39; Sear 9929. Valerian I (253 - 260 A.D.) AR Antoninianus O: IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG, radiate and draped bust right. R: FORTVNA REDVX, Mercury standing left, holding purse and caduceus Antioch Mint, 254 - 255 A.D. 21mm 3.98g RIC V 214; MIR 36, 1561a; RSC 75
Here's my Valerian! Valerian antoninianus , AD 257 O: Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, IMP VALERIANVS AVG, R: Valerian and Gallienus standing facing one another, each holding shield set on ground; two spears between in background, P M TR P V COS IIII P P RIC V, 277. Antioch mint. 5th emission. 21 mm, 3.2 g
Foot Stoolie I (English): Scabellum Pedum Tuorum (Latin): AR RI Valerian I 253-260 CE AR Ant Felicitas stndg Caduceus and Cornucopia AE RI Valerian I 253-260 CE AE 20mm Alexandria Troas mint Horse Grazing Master of the Foot: 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
Just a few coins posted so far, and already the range of portrait styles is amazing. What did he really look like? Here's a head from the Glyptotek in Copenhagen:
With this issue, Valerian seems to be making a special appeal to Apollo Salutaris ('Apollo the Health-bringer') to lift the Plague of Cyprian, which at its height was killing as many as 5000 people a day in Rome. VALERIAN Rare. Billon Antoninianus. 2.82g, 20.5mm. Rome mint, AD 256-257. RIC 76; Cohen 28. O: IMP CP LIC VALERIANVS PF AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: APOLL SALVTARI, Apollo standing left holding laurel branch in right hand and lyre resting on rock in left.
