..Of 3rd century emperors...Valerian l antoninianus

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Valerian Antoninianus, 254-255 AD. Diana
Obv: IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG, Radiate, draped bust right.
Rev: FELICITAS SAECVLI. Diana advancing right, holding torch with two hands.

 

No, the coin shows a wreath. Slavery came later.

It is never hard to find a coin worth $17.xx offered for $151. The trick is to find coins worth $151 or $17.xx for their respective prices. We should not expect to get $151 coins for $17.xx. The old saying was, "You get what you pay for." We at least have to add, "...if you are lucky." You did well. Mine was $22. I did well, too. I'm having trouble envisioning one of these worth $151.

 

Some nice examples in the thread. I've always thought it's quite difficult to find good style portraits on Valerianus' antoniniani. When one finds one, they must grab it very quickly


Valerian, Antoninianus - Rome mint, AD 253-255
IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
FIDES MILITVM, Fides Militum standing left, holding two standards
3.66 gr
Ref : RCV # 9938(45), Cohen # 65

Q

 

..well me also.. i figure the seller was kinda like Ilya...

 

..congratulations @Roman Collector ..you just gave me my 10,000th 'like'......come by and get your free coin

 

@Cucumbor is right fine style portraits of Valerian on antoninianii are quite difficult to come by. I very much regret not buying a particular example at the last coin show I attended prior to COVID. It was truly FDC....fine style, perfectly struck and lustrous. I don't remember the specific coin, but I do remember that it was from a Western mint. I hesitated because it was around $250, which is far lower than the average that I spend on coins, but I thought it was absurd for Valerian. I have not seen a comparable example in auctions or on Vcoins since that show and I can kick myself for not buying it. Oh well...lesson learned I guess!

 

Valerian coins are interesting not only for the history behind the man himself, but also the incredible variation in the portrait styles.

This is my current "portrait" example, although the reverse die was sadly a few thousand strikes past its lifespan. The Rome mint I think accurately portrays an emperor in his sixties.


Here are two others I got in mixed lots and couldn't let go. Unsure of the mint on either so I would welcome any ideas.

Here he is markedly younger, seemingly in his 30s or 40s

Here he seems a lot older, almost reminiscent of Galba in a way, as the skin around his neck/chin is visibly sagging.

Still on the lookout for a decent sestertius without breaking the banks - those have the best portraiture of all!

 

Not all by any means; this is not all that decent but it was what I got when I was looking.

 

True, but the middle bronzes, if you're lucky enough to find one aren't bad either !


Valerian, As - Rome mint, AD 255-258
IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt and scepter. S - C in field
10.0 gr
Ref : RCV # 10032, Cohen # 96

Q

 

In the coin I posted on page 1 of this thread, you can see both a double chin and a receding hairline.

 

Some nice examples shown on this thread......Interesting how the portrait styles differ.....I have one Antoninianus but I didn't buy it for the portrait more for the animalistic rendition of Felicitas...

Valerian I AR Antoninianus.Rome AD 255-256 ...2.93g
Obverse..IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS PF AVG, radiate, draped bust right
Reverse..FELICITAS AVGG, Felicitas standing left holding caduceus and cornucopiae.
RIC 87, Cohen 55; Sear 9936.