To say the least, I cannot understate how enjoyable it is to collect ancient coins. I bought a pair of Roman antoniniani depicting Valerian I and Gallienus from the latter half of the 3rd century. Overall, both coins are quite indicative of the progressive decline in silver content that plagued the coinage of the period. Nonetheless, anyone should feel free to offer their insight as I remain new to this area of numismatics and history. Seller's pictures Gallienus AR Antoninianus 260-268 AD OBV: GALLIENVS AVG REV: VIRTVS AVG Diameter: 19.4 mm Weight: 2.37 gr. RIC 534 Valerian I AR Antoninianus 253-255 AD OBV: IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG REV: FELICITAS AVGG Diameter:21.3 mm Weight: 3.71 gr. RIC 87
Both are interesting emperors, father and son...unprecedented Valerian was captured and never to be seen again leaving Gallienus to deal with Postumus and all the other troubles in the empire at this time. Certainly by this time the quality of coinage was rather low and devaluation was pretty serious. An interesting fact is that the Gallic break away empire of this time under Postumus minted better, higher quality coinage in general (not to say there aren't fine quality coins of Gallienus). It very likely that this relatively strong break away empire acted as a buffer allowing Rome to survive a serious decline and serious threats from invaders. Antoninianus - IMP POSTUMUS (RIC 67) - Lugdunum Mint The coin os the Lugdunum mint were generally of better quality than most others of this time. This one of only a few of my coins that is used on Wildwinds.
These coins certainly do show an interesting period in the progressive decline. They show just how little silver you can put in an alloy and still make a silver looking (sort of, maybe) coin. I don't know how many coins of these two emperors you eventually might want but I would suggest you look for a very early Valerian with good (by comparison) silver and a later (sole reign) Gallienus that shows how any silver appearance came to depend on an added silver wash. he set ould demonstrate the point well. Valerian early with better silver Gallienus with part of the silver wash remaining Gallienus once silvered but that is now lost
Fun coins, @Bradley Trotter ! Your Gallienus VIRTVS coin reminds me of this one. A few years back, I caught the "Gallienus bug." I have several dozen of his coins and his coins are a specialist's dream -- they were made by several different mints, have several different reverse types, officina markings, and variations in bust type and obverse inscriptions. Moreover, most of them are inexpensive and can be acquired by any collector, not just the well-heeled. Moreover, in addition to Valerian I and Gallienus, their wives Mariniana and Cornelia Salonina appear on coins, as do Gallienus and Salonina's children, Valerian II and Saloninus. Many Gallienus collectors choose to collect the whole family. And if that weren't enough to satisfy, numerous cities in the Roman provinces issued coins with Valerian, Gallienus and their family members. There are hundreds of Roman provincial coins from this reign. I find there's a certain charm to the shoddy artistry and workmanship of the later years of his reign, when they were cranking out coins as fast as they could without much in the way of what we would call "quality control." This flan is pretty good by Gallienus' standards, LOL! And what's up with Felicitas' misshapen head? She looks like something out of the cantina on Mos Eisley. I do like the emperor's neck beard, though. There's spaghetti-armed and pencil-necked Pax with her head off the raggedy flan ... And this one's just a tad off center ...
So true, here is one from my collection that is a particular favorite, something about it I find very attractive even though it's barely there Don't forget his 'animal series' in honor of his legions Second coin is not mine.
Valerian I. 253-260 AD. AR Antoninianus (25x20 mm, 3.64 gm, 12h). Rome mint. Struck 253-254 AD. Obv: IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: VICTORIA AVGG, Victory standing left, holding palm and shield. RIC 128; Cohen 224. Good silver.
Those are some interesting coins. Despite the relative abundance of coins bearing the portrait of Gallienus, I find their crudeness, poor quality, and comical depictions part of the allure. Case in point, I bought another Gallienus Antoninianus a few days ago that embodies these aspects. Reverse Obverse
This Valerian I antoninianus, from about halfway through his reign, looks like it still might have some decent amount of silver content underneath whatever wash was applied: Valerian I, Silvered Billon Antoninianus, 257 AD, Milan Mint. Obv. Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right, IMP VALERIANVS P AVG/ Rev. Virtus standing left, holding Victory with right hand and resting left hand on shield, with spear propped against left arm, VIRTVS AVGG. RIC V-1 266 var., Goebl 811d, Cunetio 770 (see https://tinyurl.com/qpb659c). 22.5 mm., 3.4 g. This Gallienus "panther" antoninianus, with little or no silvering left, clearly does not. Gallienus, Billon Antoninianus, Rome Mint 267-268 AD. Obv. Radiate head right, GALLIENVS AVG /Rev. Panther walking left, LIBERO P CONS AVG; B or D in exergue. RIC V-1 230, RSC IV 586, Sear RCV III 10281. 19mm, 2.83g, 6h.
I like the Modigliani-style portrait on your new Gallienus! A nice acquisition. As others have already said, the fineness of coins drastically declined during the reigns of Valerian and Gallienus. Here are two coins by Gallienus' wife Salonina. The first one, showing Gallienus on the reverse, was struck from comparatively good billon, while the second one is basically just base metal. Salonina, Roman Empire, BI antoninian, 255–256 AD, Asian mint (Samosata or Antioch?). Obv: SALONINA AVG; bust of Salonina, diademed, draped, on crescent, r. Rev: ROMAE AETERNAE; Gallienus, standing r., receiving Victory from Roma, seated l., holding spear in l. hand. 21mm, 3.83g. Ref: RIC V Salonina 67. Salonina, Roman Empire, AE antoninian, 267 AD, Siscia mint. Obv: SALONINA AVG; bust of Salonina, diademed, draped, on crescent, r. Rev: SALVS AVG; Salus, draped, standing r., feeding serpent held in arms. 23mm, 2.83g Ref: RIC V Salonina (2) 88.
Salonina. Augusta, 254-268 AD. AR Antoninianus (21mm, 4.10 gm, 7h). Rome mint. 1st-5th emission, circa 254-260 AD. Obv: Draped bust right, wearing stephane, set on crescent. Rev: Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter. RIC V 29 and 64; MIR 36, 227b; RSC 60. Good silver. Well struck for issue.
In addition to Salonina, you might also want to add coins of Saloninus and Valerian II to round out the whole family. Saloninus (I just posted this on a different thread) . . . Cologne mint Silver Double Denarius Obv: SALON VALERIANVS CAES Rev: SPES PVBLICA - Spes, walking left, holding flower and raising skirt RIC 13, var. 22x20mm, 2.2g. . . . and Valerian II: Silver Double Denarius Rome mint, A.D. 253-255 Obv: P LIC VALERIANVS CAES Rev: IOVI CRESCENTI - Jupiter, as a child, riding, right, on goat RIC 13 20x23 mm, 4.3g.
VALERIAN II AR Antoninianus OBVERSE: DIVO VALERIANO CAES - Radiate, draped bust right. REVERSE: CONSACRATIO - Valerian II riding eagle right, upwards Struck at Rome, 257-58 AD 3.2g, 23mm RIC 9, S 3071
Nice pickups and welcom to fun world of Ancients, @Bradley Trotter ! Very cool. VALERIAN I RI Valerian I 253-260 CE AE 20mm Alexandria Troas mint Horse Grazing GALLIENUS RI Gallienus 253-268 CE Ant Milan mint Laetitia
Welcome to the dark side! Third century antoninianii are a great place to get one's feet wet in ancients, as there is still relatively little demand for all but the most exceptional of specimens. Like many others, I have a decent collection of this dynasty (formally the first Licinius dynasty, or informally the Valerianic dynasty). Valerian I His wife Mariniana (died before her husband's reign) Gallienus He can be broken up into his early, joint reign, 253-260 Or his later, sole reign, 260-268 His wife Salonina Their eldest son, Valerian II (died 257) Curiously, even though both boys died young, only Valerian II was given consecration coinage... favorite child syndrome! Saloninus, the younger brother (died 260) They had a younger son, Quintus Julius Gallienus, who was possibly born in the purple and may have died in infancy - some believe the FECVNDITAS reverse of Salonina may celebrate this young life The dynasty is also notable for producing the last bronze sestertii at Rome, although these are quite scarce and demand healthy premiums
Amazing how the portraiture degenerated into caricatures just a couple years into his reign. They had to crank out millions of antoniniani to try to prop up the economy, and the provincial bronze coinage also ceased.
Gallienus & Virtus on a square-shaped Æ Sestertius: Sestertii, dupondii and Aes were issued in some quantity at first, however, during the end of the joint reign with the Antoninianus reduced to little more than a bronze coin, the production of Aes must have become less profitable and output declined accordingly. By 258 AD the issue of Aes had effectively ceased, however very small numbers were struck in the early years of his sole reign. Most sestertii exhibit squared and uneven edges. Gallienus invariably appears laureate on sestertii and aes, and radiate on dupondii. (The Monetary System of the Romans: A description of the Roman coinage from ...By Ian J. Sellars). Rome, 254 AD, 1st emission, struck under the authority of Valerian and Gallienus 25 mm, 14.003 g Ref.: RIC V Gallienus (joint reign) 248; Sear 10495; MIR 36, 38bb; Ob.: IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS AVG, Laureate and cuirassed bust right Rev.: (VIRTVS) AVG[G], Soldier, helmeted, in military attire, standing left, holding spear in right hand and leaning on shield with left hand, S - C across field
My most recent acquisition, just because it is Augustus: AE 24, Macedon, Amphipolis, 27 BC - 14 AD 24.21 mm, 7.86 g Ref.: RPC I 1627; SNG Copenhagen 94; SNG ANS 157; Moushmov 6038; BMC 77; Varbanov 3120; Die adjustment marks. Ob.: ΑΜ(ΦΙ)ΠO-ΛΕΙΤΩΝ, draped bust of Artemis Tauropolis r. wearing stephane, with bow and quiver over shoulder; circle of dots Rev.: ΚΑΙΣΑΡ (ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟ)Σ, statue of Augustus in military dress raising arm, standing left on dais decorated with three bucrania, and being crowned by male figure wearing toga; circle of dots Some references say that the male figure is Genius Populi Romani crowning Augustus, other just say male figure crowning Augustus. Don't know why it could be Genius, so I just leave the description as male figure.
