Despite the fact that coin shows here are uncommon and usually focused only on modern currency, this weekend I still took the chance to visit a local one which I hadn't attended in many years; back then I didn't care that much about ancients, but I did remember them being few and overpriced, so I wasn't expecting much. Surprisingly, however, I ended up finding this military bust of Gallienus; it was already at an affordable price and, when the dealer offered me a hefty discount as well, I had no choice but to pull the trigger: Roman Empire, Gallienus (253-268), Antoninianus, Rome mint. Obverse: G-ALLIENVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust left, holding spear pointing forward and shield; Reverse: GENIVS A-VG, Genius standing left, holding patera in right hand and cornucopia in left hand, standard to the right; V in left field, I in right field; RIC V - (c.f. RIC V 197); MIR 371p; While all the military busts of Gallienus from Rome are very rare, this one is particularly challenging to find, as there seem to be no examples in the sales archives: the only one I could find a photo of is the following, which is illustrated on bnumis and is a double die match to mine, suggesting a limited output. If anybody has access to MIR, though, I'd like to find out how many examples are listed there. (Image courtesy of bnumis.com) This Genius issue is not that common even in its standard type with a radiate head, so finding the other military busts, which feature the longer obverse legend IMP GALLIENVS AVG, is equally challenging: (Images courtesy of Leu Numismatik) This coin is also significative from an historical point of view, as it belongs to the first group of coins struck at Rome for Gallienus' sole reign; considering the turbulent time period, it's no wonder that the engravers introduced there the military bust, which had made its first appearance on a rare Viminacium antoninianus a couple years earlier. Several varieties exist, and they are all very rare and sought after: (Images courtesy of Leu Numismatik) That's all for now; post your favourite purchase from a coin show, your coins with military busts, or anything else you feel like might be relevant !
Wow, SCORE!!! Congrats, that's awesome when something like that falls in your lap. You must have been over the moon when you were on your way home from the show. As you know, I'm very fond of the Genius types that foreshadow the standard type for tetrarchal folles, so I love your coin for its reverse too. Here's my Aurelian: And here's my favourite Rome mint Gallienus, with the reverse matching one that you show above. I have conflicting info on the dating and emission. Obviously it's early in the sole reign but is it 1st? 2nd? 3rd emission?
Great find! It goes to show you that interesting coins may turn up at even a small, local show! This is one of the coins I purchased at a recent local show. Gordian III, AD 238-244. Roman orichalcum sestertius, 22.88 g, 30.7 mm, 1 h. Rome, 6th officina. 13th emission, January-February AD 244. Obv: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: MARS PROPVGNAT SC, Mars advancing right, holding transverse spear in right hand and shield on left arm. Refs: RIC 332a; Cohen 157; RCV 8718; Hunter 148; Banti 52.
These are great! I'm used to military busts for Probus, but I don't think I've ever seen them for Gallienus before.
Woah, awesome buy! Here's my only military bust ant of Gallienus (similar to the last example you posted, but with the V in the right field rather than the left). It's pretty rough, especially compared to yours! Here are a couple of my "Genius" coins.
I've seen this type a few times and it's one I have wanted but never bothered to buy, like many coins. A great find.
