Valerian - an epic story mostly lost to history

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Clavdivs, Feb 17, 2019.

  1. Julius Germanicus

    Julius Germanicus Well-Known Member

    I´ll see a lil´old band from Texas in a couple of month that have been performing with the very same lineup for 49 years now.

    That is the exact same time that passed from the murder of Severus Alexander in 235 to the day of Diocletian´s proclamation in 284: 49 years during which 25 band leaders were kicked out and even more were killed before even getting their foot in the door.

    Imagine Severus Alexander had ruled without his mother (who did to his street credibility what Yoko Ono did to the Beatles), he alone might have lasted for another 50 years and there would have been no age of the Soldier Emperors at all.

     
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  3. Clavdivs

    Clavdivs Well-Known Member

    well if we are going that way... I think Valerian would have by-passed Texas and went more Canadian.. he was "up a creek"....

     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2019
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  4. Ancientnoob

    Ancientnoob Money Changer

    I have a little collection of this period. Excellent coins all.
    Romano-Persian Wars.jpg
     
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  5. Sulla80

    Sulla80 Well-Known Member

    @Clavdivs I agree that there there should be a movie in the story. How did I miss this thread with one of my favorite stories linking my first coin to one of my most recent additions: Valerian and Shapur?
    Shapur I drachm.jpg
    Šābuhr (Shahpur) I "the Great", AD 240-272. AR drachm
    Obv: Bust of Shapur right, wearing diadem and mural crown with with korymbos and earflaps
    Rev: Fire altar flanked by two attendants (probably both the king as attendant of the fire), each wearing diadem and mural crowns.
    Ref: SNS type IIc/1a, style E, Group a
    Size: 23.9-24.2mm 4.15g

    and the coin it should sit on top of - the first ancient I acquired :
    Valerian.JPG
    Valerian I, Sestertius, 253-254, Rome
    Obv: IMP C P LIC VALERIANV PF AVG; Valerian I, laureate head right
    Rev: FELICITAS AVGG / S C, Felicitas standing left holding caduceus and cornucopia
    Size: 23.5-26.2mm 15.2g
     
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  6. Clavdivs

    Clavdivs Well-Known Member

    Wonderful coins... someday I must own a Shapur. Yours has a fantastic portrait.
    It is an incredible story that could be told from many interesting perspectives.
     
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  7. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    I love my Valerian coins so I'd better get on this bandwagon before it's too late... great thread!
    Screen Shot 2019-02-28 at 8.38.15 PM.jpg
    Viminacium c. 253

    100.jpg
    Alexandria, 256-7 (ex Justin Lee)

    238.jpg
    Cologne, 257-8 (first issue at this new mint, ex iamtiberius)

    Screen Shot 2019-02-28 at 8.38.34 PM.jpg
    Samosata, 256-60

    And his captor...
    Screen Shot 2019-02-28 at 8.39.16 PM.jpg
     
  8. gogili1977

    gogili1977 Well-Known Member

    My latest Valerian I is from Viminacium:
    Valerian I. AD 253-260. AR Antoninianus (21mm, 3.10 g). Viminacium mint. 3rd emission, AD 257-258. Radiate and cuirassed bust right / VICT PART, Victory standing left, holding shield and palm; to left, captive seated left, in attitude of mourning. RIC 262.
    088-05.jpg

    I have found this description on acsearch for this antoninian.
    During the joint reign of Valerian and Gallienus, a pragmatic approach to ruling the vast empire was adopted, hopefully abating the difficulties of governing such vast territorites by the previous emperors. The novel mechanism was to split the empire between the two Augustii, with Gallienus ruling in the West while Valerian campaigned (and ruled) in the East. The Persians were the most pervasive threat to the Empire at the beginning of Valerian's reign, and it was obvious that Valerian would have to personally lead an army to combat them. Valerian's army arrived too late to stop the Sasanians under their king, Shahpur I, from devastating the eastern provinces. The Sasanians typically did not occupy, but rather raided, as their forerunners, the Parthians, typically had done. Valerian stayed in the East to mop-up and rebuild while Gallienus faced threats along the Rhine and Danube. During his Danube campaign, Gallienus opened the mint of Viminacium to have a mint located close to the imperial headquarters along the war front. In AD 257, Valerian joined Gallienus there. Not long after, word reached him that the Sasanians were once again invading, and Valerian left for the east in the spring of AD 258. This issue either was made for a token commemoration of the previous campaign, or else (more likely) in anticipation of another, and hopefully final, victory. If the latter, than all was for naught, as Valerian was captured by Shahpur in AD 260, becoming the first Roman emperor to ever be captured by an enemy. News of his capture gave impetus for massive invasions by Alamanni, Franks, and Juthungi across the Rhine and Danube frontiers, and emboldened the Goths' sea raids. These events prevented Gallienus from ever attempting to lead an army east to rescue his father, who died as a captive, after being subjected to years of public humiliations at the hands of Shahpur.
     
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  9. Alegandron

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

    Here is my AE of Valerian. A nice quiet equine pastoral scene prior to the brutal scene of Persian / Sassanian cavalry beating down Valerian’s legions...

    LOL, nuthin like a good BOOK that us complete, rather than a movie, to REALLY tell the story.

    upload_2019-4-13_7-39-49.jpeg
    RI Valerian I 253-260 CE AE 20mm Alexandria Troas mint Horse Grazing
     
    Last edited: Apr 13, 2019
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  10. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Valerian I 5.jpg
    VALERIAN I
    AE20
    OBVERSE: IMP LICI VALERIAN, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
    REVERSE: VCOL AVG TRO, horse grazing right
    Struck at Alexandria Troas, 253-60 AD
    4.86g, 21mm
    SNGCop 191v
    Valerian I 4.jpg
    VALERIAN I
    AE Antoninianus
    OBVERSE: IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS PF AVG, radiate, draped cuirassed bust right
    REVERSE: VIRTVS AVGG, Valerian and Gallienus facing each other, one holding spear and globe, the other Victory and spear
    Struck at Antioch, 255-56 AD
    2.9g, 22.5mm
    RIC 293, Cohen 276
     
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