Featured One of four Gallienus RESTITVTOR types

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Roman Collector, May 18, 2018.

  1. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Seventeen types were issued during Valerian's and Gallienus' joint reign which presented Gallienus as restitutor (restorer). Out of these 17 types, nine bear the legend RESTITVTOR GALLIARVM, six show the legend RESTITVTOR ORBIS, one type propagates RESTITVT ORIENTIS, and another reads RESTITVT GENER HVMANI, probably referring to the inhabitants of the provinces.[1]

    The coins bearing the legend RESTITVTOR GALLIARVM date to the period AD 256-259, which implies they refer to victories over the German tribes, such as the Franks and Allemani, who invaded Gaul.[2]

    This coin, with the RESTITVT ORIENTIS (restorer of the east) reverse legend, probably points to some successes against the Sasanians in the years AD 253-254.[3]

    However, no coin types presenting the emperor as restitutor were struck during Gallienus' sole reign. Either Gallienus preferred other forms of propaganda or proclaiming that the Empire/world had been restored conflicted too overtly with what was actually happening.

    All of these issues are somewhat difficult to acquire.

    Robert Göbl identified the issuing mint as Samosata, a city on the river Euphrates in Mesopotamia (the birthplace of the Roman satirical author Lucian/Loukian), the site of which (Samsat in Adiyaman Province, Turkey) today lies under a reservoir. Like Antioch, Samosata played an important role for ancient traders travelling the Eastern trade routes to Damascus and the oasis kingdom of Palmyra. Samosata probably operated as a mint between 255-258, possibly replacing the mint at Antioch which was plundered several times in this period -- in 253 (during the reign of Trebonianus Gallus) or 256 and again in 260: the sources for the period are rather patchy.

    Post your Gallienus restitutor issues or anything you feel is relevant.

    Gallienus RESTITVT ORIENTIS Antoninianus.jpg
    Gallienus, AD 253-268.
    Roman Billon Antoninianus, 4.40 g; 23.5 mm.
    Samosata, AD 255-256.
    Obv: IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS AVG, radiate and draped bust, right.
    Rev: RESTITVT ORIENTIS, Tyche, left, presenting wreath to emperor, right, who holds spear in left.
    Refs: RIC 448; RSC 902; Cohen 902; RCV 10341; Hunter p. xlvii; Göbl 1677m.

    ~~~

    1. RESTITVTOR GALLIARVM: RIC V.1 Gallienus joint reign, nos. 27-35. RESTITVTOR ORBIS: RIC V.1 Gallienus joint reign, nos. 91, 164, 165, 234-236. RESTITVT ORIENTIS: RIC V.1 Gallienus joint reign, no. 448. RESTITVT GENER HVMANI: RIC V.1 Gallienus joint reign, no. 296.

    2. Blois, Lukas de. The Policy of the Emperor Gallienus. E.J. Brill, 1976, p. 6.

    3. Vagi, David L. Coinage and History of the Roman Empire. Vol. 1, Coinworld, 1999, p. 348.
     
    Last edited: May 22, 2018
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  3. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

    I have this one:

    GallienusRESTITGALLIAR8340.jpg
    Gallienus. 23-21 mm. 3.79 grams.
    RESTIT GALLIAR
    emperor raising kneeling female holding cornucipia
    RIC (Joint reign) 29, says Lugdunum mint. Foss 20 says the event is of 257.
    Sear III 10339 says the coin was struck 257-8 at Cologne.
     
  4. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

  5. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Nice coins, and very historical. Regret not having any of these types.
    In spirit, they remind me of this aureus, VBQVE PAX which was rather a hopeful notion and the opposite of what was happening. Interestingly the legend of Gallinenus is in the vocative case, which is very unusual, sort of a paen to Gallienus.

    gallienae.jpg
     
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  6. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Matching Valerian
    rp1505bb3128.jpg
     
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  7. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    I also have the matching Samosata Valerian. Such an ironic type.
    Screen Shot 2018-05-19 at 10.05.40 PM.jpg
     
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  8. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

  9. TJC

    TJC Well-Known Member

    Nice Gallienus RC!!!
    I still need the Gallienus version. Here is a Valerian I was very happy to acquire!! Thanks Warren!:)

    ValerianIOrbis339xO1.jpg ValerianIOrbis339xR1.jpg

    Valerian I
    . AD 253-260. AR antoninianus ( mm).
    Rome mint, struck A.D. 256-257.
    O: IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG, radiate, draped, & cuirassed bust right
    Rx: RESTITVTOR ORBIS, Valerian standing left, holding spear and raising female kneeling right. Göbl 111b; RIC 117; RSC 183
     
  10. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    So, query for the Latin linguists please: I have Denarius with ROMA RESTITVTA. Is this the feminine version due to the subject being ROMA?

    Is there any other significance?

    upload_2018-5-22_8-8-8.png
    RI Civil War
    Revolt of Vindex CE 68-69
    AR Denarius
    ROMA RESTITVTA - IVPITER LIBERATOR Jupiter seated r Tbolt Scepter
    17mm 3.02g
    RIC I 62 RSC 374-RARE
     
  11. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Neat coin! And yes, it's a feminine singular of rēstitūtus. The only other possibility would be the neuter plural, but that makes no sense in context.
     
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  12. kevin McGonigal

    kevin McGonigal Well-Known Member

    I have never seen, or noticed, I guess, the vocative case used before on a coin. More like a plea than a paean, I think. Perhaps the noun equivalent of the subjunctive mood in a verb. "Please, Gallienus, might you bring us peace everywhere".
     
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