We have a nice thread going on reverse types of Gallienus: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/gallienus-reverse-images.290264/ This thread refines that one because so few legionary types have been posted there. (@RAGNAROK showed two) 20-19 mm. 2.78 grams. 12:30. GALLIENVS AVG capricorn right, LEG IIXX VI P VI [corrected from VII with the help of @zumbly] F [VI pia VI fidelis, which are loyalty numbers] RIC V.I Gallienus sole reign 361, page 96 Cunetio 1476, Ticinum mint, first sole reign issue. 7 pieces of this type and legend among 232 legionary pieces attributed to Milan among 2604 Gallienus pieces attributed to Milan among 14429 sole-reign Gallienus pieces. So, only about 1 in every 2000 Gallienus sole-reign coins is this type. IIXX seems to refer to the legion 22 (not 18 by some subtractive principle) with a die-cutters order-error. There are coins of legion "XXII" with a capricorn. Cunetio attributes the legionary types to 260 as the very first issue at Milan of his sole reign. All the legionary coins are from Milan. In 1930 Andreas Alfoldi wrote a Numismatic Chronicle article "The numbering of the victories of the Emperor Gallienus and the loyalty of his legions" which was reprinted in 1977 by Attic books as a pamphlet, nicely illustrated with ten plates totaling 167 examples, mostly types mentioning victories but some of the legionary series is illustrated. (Cunetio illustrates them all.) If you have academic JSTOR access or are a member of the Royal Numismatic Society I think it is available on-line. Some Gallienus pieces have good quality, but many are struck either weakly or with very worn dies. It seems most of the legionary coins fall in the latter category. A "nice" Gallienus legionary piece would be an unusual prize. Show us your Gallienus legionary coins.
These are some of my 'nice' examples, although I purchased them for the 'general' theme of his 'zoo series'---but the mythological aspect is there as well.
Warren, am I mistaken or do the loyalty numbers on your coin read VI P VI F rather than VI P VII F? I have just one, in spectacularly bad shape... GALLIENUS Antoninianus. Legionary issue. 2.8g, 20mm. Milan mint, 261 AD. RIC 322 O: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right. R: LEG I MIN VI P VI F, helmeted Minerva standing left holding Victory in right hand, spear in right and resting on a shield.
I think you are right. Thanks for discovering my error. [I fixed it in my post above.] Gallienus has many interesting types. One could collect his victory types that mention particular (numbered) victories. By the way, the legionary series, which explicitly names legions, is distinct from the "zoo series" even though the legionary series usually has animals (often mythological, as the two I have shown) on it . Here is another legionary type: GALLIENVS AVG LEG II ADI VI P VI F Legion II Adiutrux from Pannonia Inferior Pegasus flying right RIC V.I 327 page 93. Cunetio 1448 (12 similar examples--none photographed which probably means they were all in poor condition)
