Managed to pick up this lot of two antoninianii of Gallienus for $25 shipped recently, a pretty good deal IMO. I had mainly just wanted the FELICI AVG due to how nice it looked with all that remaining silvering, and was considering selling the VIRTVS AVGG since eastern antoninianii aren't really my thing and to get back at least some of what I had paid for the pair. But that one has been growing on me, so I plan on keeping it as well. I have no idea how common/rare these types are. Gallienus, Roman Empire AE antoninianus Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate, bust right Rev: FELICI AVG, Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae Mint: Rome Date: 260-268 AD Ref: RIC 187 Gallienus, Roman Empire Billon antoninianus Obv: IMP CP LIC GALLIENVS P F AVG, radiate, draped bust right Rev: VIR-TVS AV-GG, Valerian standing on right, holding globe and sceptre, facing Gallienus, standing on left, holding Victory and sceptre Mint: Antioch or Samosata Date: 253-260 AD (during joint rule with Valerian) Ref: RIC 187 Feel free to post your Gallienus coins, or coins you originally didn't really want but ended up liking.
I only have one but its quite nice and will stay with me... Gallienus, Antoninianus, Minted AD 258-259 (Joint reign) Obverse..GALLIENVS dot P dot F dot AVG Radiate, curaissed bust right Reverse..GERMANICVS MAX V trophy between two seated and bound German captives RIC VI#18 variant obv legend dots..Cologne
I've been lucky enough to get a few very nice ones as gifts. CoinTalk Secret Saturnalia 2017: CoinTalk Secret Saturnalia 2016:
I’ve been considering tackling the Gallienus zoo series. I picked up this one from the last Triskeles Auction. Gallienus. A.D. 253-268. BI antoninianus (19 mm, 2.86 g, 8 h). Rome, A.D. 267/8. IMP GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head of Gallienus right / DIANAE CONS AVG, doe standing right, head left; Є. RIC 176
Gallienus RIC 652 PAX FVNDATA = Peace Founded... (I have wondered what peace was founded in 265. It seems everything was falling apart about this time. Right?!)
While this one has some grime and a weak reverse... it shows that some really early joint reign Gallienus coins can have silver almost as nice as coins from the 240s. CONCORDIA EXERCIT RIC 132
Heck, these are nicer-than-usual! All kidding aside, here are a few favorites, each from a different mint, and each depicting the emperor in all his neck-bearded glory. Joint reign: 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. Gallienus, AD 253-268. Roman billon antoninianus, 3.61 g, 21.1 mm, 12 h. Cologne, AD 257-258. Obv: GALLIENVS P F AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: VIRTVS AVGG, Gallienus in military attire standing right, holding spear and standard. Refs: RIC 58F; Göbl 8821; Cohen 1309; RCV 10413; Hunter 58; ERIC II 1030. Sole reign: Gallienus, AD 153-268. Roman billon antoninianus. Mediolanum, AD 264-265. Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, Narrow radiate head right, both ribbons behind. Rev: DIANA FELIX, Diana standing right, holding spear and bow; at foot, hound. Refs: RIC 473K; Göbl 1146m(2): Cohen/RSC 173; RCV 10197; Hunter pl. lxvi. Gallienus, 253-268 AD. Roman Æ Antoninianus, 2.63 g, 20.8 mm, 5 h. Rome Mint, 10th emission, 267-268 AD. Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right. Rev: LIBERO P CONS AVG, tiger walking left, B in exergue. Refs: RIC 230K; Göbl 713b; Cohen 586; RCV 10281; Cunetio 1341; Hunter 112
Lot of nice Gallienus coins on this post. Just yesterday I got a Gallienus from a lot via eBay. A SECVRIT PERPET (ha!) from Milan: Gallienus Æ Antoninianus (c. 260-268 A.D.) Mediolanum (Milan) Mint GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right / SECVRIT PE[RP]ET, Securitas standing left, holding sceptre and leaning on column. RIC (S) 516, Milan; Göbl 0591a. (2.68 grams / 20 mm)
Yes, great coins, I would keep them both too Not that I actively collect Galienus, but I keep a couple Gallienus, Antoninianus - Cologne mint, AD 257-258 GALLIENVS PF AVG, Radiate and cuirassed bust of Gallienus, seen from front VIRTVS AVGG, Virtus, standing right, holding spear and standard 3,93 gr Ref : RCV #10413, Cohen #1309, Göbl # 8821 Gallienus, Antoninianus - Antioch mint, AD 265 GALLIENVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right seen from front VENRI (sic) VICTRICI, Venus standing left, holding helmet shield and spear 3,30 gr Ref : RCV #10370 var, Cohen #1021 var, Göbl #1653g Gallienus, Antoninianus - Antioch mint, AD 265-266 GALLIENVS AVG radiate head left AETERNITAS AVG she wolf standing right, suckling twins Romulus and Remus. Branch at exergue 3,9 gr, 20 mm Ref : RIC V-1 # 628, Göbl # 1628a And two belonging in the zoo series, followed by an overview of the different reverses I currently have Gallienus, Antoninianus - Rome mint, 4th officina, AD 267-268 IMP GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right APOLLINI CONS AVG, Griffin left. Delta at exergue 3.18 gr Ref : Cohen # 77, RCV # 10180v, Göbl # 718z, Cmr # 4aa4 Gallienus, Antoninianus - Rome mint, 7th officina, AD 267-268 GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right APOLLINI CONS AVG, Centaur walking right, drawing bow. Z at exergue 2.41 gr Ref : Cohen # 72, RCV # 10177, Göbl # 735b, RIC # 163, Cmr # 2a7 Q
Here's a photo of an antoninianus that I got in a lot of uncleaned coins many years ago. I listed in an eBay auction with a $.99 opening bid. I knew it was an unusual obverse portrait, and I was hoping it would bring at least $15-$20. It ended up selling for over $200:
That series with the palm in exergue regularly is found well struck on good flans with decent surfaces. It makes me wonder if there was a large hoard yeas ago (I have had mine quite a while so it is not recent). The Antioch mint really outperformed Rome but did not make the zoo coins we all seem to associate with Gallienus.
