"Oriens augusti" means the "rising sun of the emperor," implying a new day, a fresh start, and rising fortune. The reverse depicts Sol, the sun god, holding a whip with which to drive his chariot across the sky. This is a new purchase from @John Anthony . It's common but nice for the type. Gallienus, AD 253-268 Roman billon antoninianus, 2.58 g, 18.1 mm, 1 h Rome, AD 264-266 Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head, right Rev: ORIENS AVG, Sol walking left, right hand raised, holding whip in left hand; Z in left field Refs: RIC 249K; Göbl 0165a; Cohen 699; RCV 10297; Hunter 72 This "it's a new day" message has been used even in modern times by leaders trying to instill hope among their pessimistic citizens: Post anything you feel is relevant, as always!
Here are a couple I picked up last year from @John Anthony: LYCAONIA, Iconium. Gallienus, AD 253-268. Æ23, 6.2g, 6h Obv: IM C P LI GALLIENVS AV; Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: ICONIENSI COLO; Tyche seated left on throne, holding rudder and cornucopia; wheel below // SR Reference: Von Aulock, Lykaoniens 450-62; BMC 17. CILICIA, Anemurium. Gallienus, AD 253-268. Æ 22, 7.0g, 6h; Dated RY 2 (AD 254/5). Obv.: AY K ΠO ΛIKIN ΓAΛΛIHNON; Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Rev.: ЄT B ANEMOVPIЄΩN; Artemis advancing right, holding bow in extended hand and drawing arrow from quiver; forepart of stag reclining left, head facing at foot left Reference: CNG 321, Lot 352; SNG Levante 522 (dated RY 3).
GALLIENUS Antoninianus OBVERSE: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right REVERSE: ORIENS AVG, Sol walking or running left, right hand raised hand, holding whip in left hand Z left Struck at Mediolanum, Sole Reign, 260-8 AD 3.5g, 21.5mm RIC 249 AURELIAN Antoninianus OBVERSE: IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate cuirassed bust right REVERSE: ORIENS AVG, Sol standing left with hand raised, foot on one of two bound captives, XXIP in ex. Struck at Serdica, 274 AD 3.4g, 23mm RIC 63f, Venera 1008, C 145 AURELIAN Antoninianus OBVERSE: IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate cuirassed bust right REVERSE: / ORIENS AVG, Sol advancing left, holding globe & right hand raised in salute, treading on left of two captives at foot, officina letter in ex Struck at Rome,272-4 AD 4.4g, 22mm RIC 62
Very nice Aurelians! I particularly like the reddish patina on the last one. The Gallienus is misattributed to the Mediolanum mint; RIC, Sear and Göbl all attribute it to the Rome mint.
Valerian I (253 - 260 A.D.) AR Antoninianus O: VALERIANVS P F AVG - Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Valerian I. R:ORIENS AVGG - Sol, holding globe, raising hand. Colonia Agrippinensis (Cologne) mint. 2nd emission 3.5gm RIC 13 I think the Oriens type for Valeran I is very ironic considering what happened to him out in the orient/Asia.
Nothing says good morning like trampling on some captives . AURELIAN Antoninianus. 3.52g, 23mm. Mediolanum (Milan) mint, spring AD 274. RIC 150; New RIC Online #1519. O: IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right. R: ORIENS AVG, Sol standing left, with right hand raised and holding globe in left hand, right foot resting on a bound captive in oriental dress seated left; on the other side, another bound captive in oriental dress seated right, head turned left; QM in exergue
