I got this from @GregH in Australia, in the Secret Saturnalia swap over on NumisForums. The letter said: ”Happy Saturnalia! I hope you like this coin- a better grade Valerian ant.” And so it is! I daresay it looks Mint State! Wow. This is only the second Valerian I have owned. The last was in my old novice (2007-08) collection, when I had just started collecting ancients. I got it from Incitatus Coins. Had to sell it in 2008 when I sold the rest of the old collection during my Recession layoff. As you can see, the new one @GregH just sent is far superior. Here's the old one, which appears to have been the same PIETAS type. I find Valerian interesting because of that story about how he became the human footstool of Shapur I when he was captured by the Sasanians.
Very attractive! I love Antoniniaus surfaces like this, kind of a golden tone over green/olive patina. It gives them a real depth and richness. Has anyone noticed that a lot of Ants. from very old collections have this look? Not sure if it's just cabinet-toning or if they were cleaned/conserved differently in past generations/centuries.
I wonder too how pure the silver in the silvering was. If it was alloyed with something (not quite billon, but lower purity), that might account for how it toned, I suppose. US War nickels (35% silver) sometimes tone like this, I've noticed.
That's a pleasant present! Is it from the Antioch/Samosata mint? I have pretty few Valerians; most of mine are Sestertii. I think the previous Ant before last year's one was from the 1990's. I think that's one of the silver-washed ones.
It is -- or was -- uncertain, but maybe someone who knows Valerian/Gallienus coinage well can say whether opinion has coalesced around either of those two mints: Samosata in Commagene, which was inland a bit from Antioch, in Syria, but not too far. I think RIC V was uncertain, simply calling it a mint in "Asia," presumably Antioch or Samosata. (There have been a couple past posts on the topic if you search "Samosata.") Incidentally, here's my most newest Valerian... It has a tiny creepy hooded Telesphorus standing between Asclepius and Hygeia (his proud papa and sister). Little weirdo, that guy! Phrygia, Cotiaeum. Valerian AE (24mm, 7.75g, 2h) Obv: ΑΥΤ Κ Π ΛΙΚ ΟΥΑΛΕΡΙΑΝΟΝ. Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust from rear. Rev: ΕΠΙ Π ΑΙΛ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΑΝΟΥ ΙΠΠ(Ι)(Κ) / ΑΡ/Χ / ΚΟΤΙΑΕΩΝ. Asclepius & Hygeia, with Telesphorus between. Ref: For type, see: RPC X (Temp) 63217 Prov: CNG EA 548 (18 Oct 2023) lot 1115 (part of), ex M. Slavin coll., ex H.C. Lindgren (1914-2005) coll. (unpublished) w/ his envelope. From Phrygia, Cotiaeum -- which makes this relatively late, as Provincials go. Outside Alexandria (where they kept up through Diocletian's Tetrarchy & the usurper Domitius), the Provincial Coinage started dying out between about the reigns of Gallienus and Tacitus.
Aha, so I was right! The bug eyes gave it away. Besides the initial Persian campaign, I always thought a Samosata attribution was strange; why put the mint in such an exposed part of the frontier, so close to the fighting?
Maybe that was why? Not sure how long it was operating or how long troops were there. But maybe the Eastern Legions were the primary recipients of this type?
For a good chunk of the 250's, it also would have far behind enemy lines, with Persia briefly occupying much of Syria.
