Featured The MEDIOLANUM mint Challenge

The city
Milan (Mediolanum) is today the second most populous city in Italy. But it is an important place for over 2600 years. The name of the town “Mediolanum” means “in the middle of a plain” referring to its geographical location. It could also means “Minerva’s land” and indeed she had her temple there. In 2014, the
remains of a pagan temple believed to have been devoted to the goddess Minerva have been found under the Milan Cathedral.(https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2014/01/remains-of-roman-temple-found-under.html)
Especially during the Roman Imperial times, many major events took place there. The emperor Trajan had supposedly built a Royal Palace in Milan. Septimius Severus used the city as his headquarters during the war against Didius Julianus whose Milanese origin has been confirmed in the “Lives of the later Caesars”. Julia Domna gave birth to her second son Geta in Milan. After killing his brother and taking full control of the empire, Caracalla placed even more importance to the place. His “Itinerarium Antonini” shows Milan as one of the most strategic intersection of the whole empire.
The population increased to almost 100,000 citizens and then Mediolanum became one of the largest cities in Roman Italy. Maximian increased the city area surrounded by a new, larger stone wall (about 3 miles long) encircling an area of 375 acres with many 24-sided towers.
In 259 AD, Roman army under the command of Emperor Gallienus successfully defeated the Alemanni in the Battle of Mediolanum. In 286 Diocletian moved the capital of the Western Roman Empire from Rome to Mediolanum. He himself decided to reside at Nicomedia in the Eastern Empire, leaving his colleague Maximian at Milan. It was from Milan that the Constantine the Great issued the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, granting tolerance to all religions within the Empire and preparing the way for Christianity to become the dominant religion of the Empire. He also came to Mediolanum to celebrate the wedding of his half-sister Flavia Julia Constantia to the Eastern Emperor, Licinius.

Remains of the Imperial Palace


The mint
A mint operated at Milan from the reign of Gallienus (AD 253-268) or sooner until it was closed as part of the reforms of Aurelian in 275 AD. During the second half of the 4th century the mint was reopened, striking gold and silver coinage.It finally closed circa 475 AD. From the beginning the workshop seemed to work with 2 officinae (MP Mediolanum Prima, MS Mediolanum Secunda); the first one used reverses specific to Cologne, even if the characteristic Milanese style appears from the start. Around 259 AD, the first emission included aurei, silver quinari and sestertii. Only antoniniani were relatively abundant. A new style change appeared in 265, at the same time as the mintmark "M", sometimes located in the field but generally in the exergue. Around 275 AD, a third officinae opened, naturally marked “T”or “MT”. Later mint marks forth this mint were MD, MDOB, MDPS, MED. Over the last decades many Milan minted coins were reattributed to the Rome workshop.
This mint was active under the following issuers:

• Herennia Etruscilla- AD 249 - AD 251
• Trajan Decius - AD 249 - AD 251
• Herennius Etruscus - AD 250 - AD 251
• Volusian - AD 251 - AD 253
• Trebonianus Gallus - AD 251 - AD 253
• Hostilian - AD 251 - AD 251
• Valerian I-AD 253 - AD 260
• Salonina (sole reign of Gallienus) - AD 253 - AD 268
• Gallienus (joint reign) - AD 253 - AD 260
• Mariniana - AD 253 - AD 260
• Salonina (joint reign) - AD 253 - AD 260
• Valerian II - AD 256 - AD 258
• Saloninus - AD 258 - AD 260
• Gallienus (sole reign) - AD 260 - AD 268
• Postumus - AD 260 - AD 269
• Claudius II - AD 268 - AD 270
• Divus Claudius (official) - AD 270 - AD 271
• Severina - AD 270 - AD 275
• Aurelian - AD 270 - AD 275
• Quintillus - AD 270 - AD 270
• Constantius II- AD 323 - AD 361
• Valentinian I - AD 364 - AD 375
• Valens - AD 364 - AD 378
• Gratian - AD 367 - AD 383
• Valentinian II - AD 375 - AD 392
• Theodosius I - AD 379 - AD 395
• Magnus Maximus - AD 383 - AD 388
• etc...

So here is the Challenge: how many different specimen can we found from the Mediolanum mint? Please show us your coins !

Let’s start with :
Gallienus Milan

Aurelian Milan

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Gallienus
Antoninianus
Obv:– IMP GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate bust right, slight drapery on both shoulders
Rev:– FORT REDVX, Fortuna seated left holding rudder and cornucopia
Minted in Mediolanum/Milan (//MS)
Reference:– Göbl 1350f. RIC 483



Aureolus, rebel under Postumus
Antoninianus
Obv:– IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev:– CONCORD EQVIT, Fortuna standing left, foot on prow, holding patera and rudder, S in exergue
Minted in Mediolanum (Milan). A.D. 268
Reference– RIC Postumus 372. Cohen.20 -. Cunetio-. E.616. AGK.6 a

 

Claudius II Gothicus Ant

Obv:– IMP CLAVDIVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev:– VIRTVS AVG, Mars advancing right, holding trophy and spear
Minted in Milan. (P in exe)
Reference:– RIC 172. Cohen 315



Quintillus Ant.

Obv:– IMP QVINTILLVS AVG, Radiate, draped bust right
Rev:– MARTI PAC, Mars standing left, holding olive-branch & spear
Minted in Milan. (P in exe). A.D. 270
Reference:– RIC 58. Cohen 47

 

Trajan Decius Antoninianus

Obv:– IMP CAE TRA DECIVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev:– GEN ILLVRICI, Genus of Illyria standing left
Minted in Milan.
Reference:– RIC 38b. RSC 44



Trebonianus Gallus Antoninianus

Obv:– IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev:– PIETAS AVGG, Pietas, veiled, standing left, raising both hands; to left altar
Minted in Milan. A.D. 251 - A.D. 253
Reference:– Van Meter 28. RIC 72, RSC 88

 

Nice selection @maridvnvm . You were already the winner of the “LUGDUNUM mint Challenge” and you are certainly taking the lead here...

 

I will throw some in from Milan Mint....

AV Ducato ND Milan Mint
Filippo Maria Visconti Duke of Milan
Struck circa 1422-25
AV Solidus ND Milan or Lugdunum Mint?
Theodorich I circa 495-525
Ostrogothic Rulers of Italy

 

Trebonianus Gallus Antonin.
(251-253 A.D.)
Mediolanum Mint (RIC) or Branch Mint, 5th Issue
IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, radiate bust right. / IVNO MARTIALIS, Juno seated left, holding grain ears (or tongs?) and a scepter.
RIC 69; RSC 46; Sear 9631.
(2.95 grams / 22 mm)



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)

 

If medievals are permitted, here is a very rare denaro imperiale of Heinrich VII von Luxemburg/Enrico VII di Lussemburgo as King of the Romans (1308-1313) and King of Italy (1311-1313), of cca. 1311-1312:




and another imperiale of Milan, minted under Friedrich II von Hohenstaufen/Federico Ruggero Constantino di Svevia, as Holy Roman Emperor (1220-1250) from cca. 1250 and immobilized later on as a communal coinage:

 

Another Medieval ex.
AV Genovino ND Milan Mint
Milan/ Republic 1160-1300

 

GALLIENUS
Billon Antoninianus. 3.33g, 19.2mm. Mediolanum (Milan) mint, 2nd officina, issue 7, AD 266. MIR 36, – [1353f]; RIC V (sole reign) 482; Cunetio 1745; Normanby 474 (this coin, illustrated). O: IMP GALLIENVS P AVG, radiate bust right, with drapery on left shoulder. R: FORT REDVX, Fortuna seated left, holding rudder and cornucopiae; MS in exergue.
Ex N. M. McQ. Holmes Collection; ex Normanby Hoard (1985) [IRBCH 854], no. 474

CLAUDIUS II GOTHICUS
AE Antoninianus. 2.98g, 19.8mm. Mediolanum mint, mid AD 269 - spring 270. New RIC V/1 Online temp #58 (this coin cited). O: IMP CLAVDIVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, seen from rear. R: PAX AVGVSTI, Pax running left, holding olive branch and long transverse sceptre; T in exergue.
Ex Finn Johannessen Collection (purchased from Carsley Whetstone & Co, 10 Sep 2003)

 

Very nice! I'll take this as an opportunity to post these otherwise quotidian Trebonianus Gallus issues, which I have never posted before:


Trebonianus Gallus, AD 251-253.
Roman AR antoninianus, 3.14 g, 23.5 mm, 5 h.
Branch mint (traditionally attributed to Mediolanum), AD 252.
Obv: IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
Rev: IVNO MARTIALIS, Juno seated left, holding corn-ears (?) and scepter.
Refs: RIC 69; Cohen 46; RCV 9631; Hunter 49.


Trebonianus Gallus, AD 251-253.
Roman AR antoninianus, 3.01 g, 25 mm, 12 h.
Branch mint (traditionally attributed to Mediolanum), AD 252.
Obv: IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
Rev: LIBERTAS PVBLICA, Libertas standing left, holding pileus and transverse scepter.
Refs: RIC 70; Cohen 68; RCV 9636; Hunter 50.

 

It was about time you show him up RC. I look at him and notice he’s a bit pale, locked in your dark safe for so long... Thanks for making him see the daylight.

 

Claudius II :



Quintillus :



Honorius :


Q

 

If you’re a fan of Mediolanum, you need this “Bible”. Unfortunately, I don’t think it has been translated yet. So if your Italian is not better then mine, you will have some understanding problem...

 

Aureolus, in the name of Postumus.
The "EQVIT" series, struck during the revolt at Milan against Gallienus.
Cunetio Hoard, 2482.
CONCORDIA EQVIT
Ex: Warren Esty


GALLIENUS

RI Gallienus 253-268 CE Ant Milan mint Laetitia



Arcadius, AD 395-408
AR Siliqua, 16mm, 1.1g, 12h.
Obv.: DN ARCADI-VS PF AVG; Pearl diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
Rev.: VIRTVS RO-MANORVM; Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and reversed spear.
Mint MDPS, struck in Milan in 402,
Ref: RIC1227
From the Doug Smith Collection, #2829

 

Excellent. We are only missing :

• Herennia Etruscilla
• Herennius Etruscus
• Volusian
• Hostilian
• Valerian I and II
• Mariniana
• Salonina
• Saloninus
• Severina
• Constantius II
• Valentinian I and II
• Valens
• Gratian
• Theodosius I
• Magnus Maximus

 

Valerian (AD 253-260):


Valerian Antoninianus Pax (Mediolanum)
Silver, 24 mm, 3.52 gm, Catalog: RIC 245
Struck: AD 257 Mediolanum (Milan)
Obverse:
Radiate, draped bust right
IMP VALERIANVS P AVG
Reverse:
Pax standing, facing, holding olive branch and scepter
PAX AVGG

 

THIS IS THE SILIQUA OF MEDIOLANUM OF MY DATABASIS (www.siliques.fr) :

VALENTINIEN II - Silique -

------------------------------
VALENTINIEN II - Silique - 012a

------------------------------
VALENTINIEN II - Silique - 014a

------------------------------
THEODOSE IER - Silique -

------------------------------
THEODOSE IER - Silique -

------------------------------
THEODOSE IER - Silique - 012b

------------------------------
THEODOSE IER - Silique - 014b

------------------------------
THEODOSE IER - Silique - 032a

------------------------------
THEODOSE IER - Silique - 032a

------------------------------
THEODOSE IER - 1/2 silique - 033a

------------------------------
THEODOSE IER - 1/2 silique - 038a

------------------------------
MAGNUS MAXIMUS - Silique - 019a

------------------------------
MAGNUS MAXIMUS - 1/2 silique - 019a-V

------------------------------
FLAVIUS-VICTOR - Silique - 019b

------------------------------
EUGENE - Silique - 032c

------------------------------
EUGENE - 1/2 silique - 033b

------------------------------

 

ARCADIUS - Silique - 013

------------------------------
ARCADIUS - Silique - 013

------------------------------
ARCADIUS - Silique - 027a

------------------------------
ARCADIUS - Silique - 032b

------------------------------
ARCADIUS - 1/2 silique - 039a

------------------------------
ARCADIUS - 1/2 silique - 039a-V

------------------------------
ARCADIUS - Silique - 1224

------------------------------
ARCADIUS - Silique - 1227a

------------------------------
ARCADIUS - Silique - 1227b

------------------------------
ARCADIUS - Silique - 1227b

------------------------------
ARCADIUS - Silique - 1227c

------------------------------
ARCADIUS - Silique - 1227c

------------------------------
ARCADIUS - Silique - 1227d

------------------------------
ARCADIUS - Silique - 1227e

------------------------------
ARCADIUS - Silique - 1227f

------------------------------
ARCADIUS - Silique - 1228e

------------------------------
ARCADIUS - Silique - 1229

------------------------------
ARCADIUS - 1/2 silique - 1230

------------------------------
ARCADIUS - 1/2 silique - 1233

------------------------------

 

ARCADIUS - 1/2 silique - 1235

------------------------------
HONORIUS - Silique -

------------------------------
HONORIUS - Silique - 026

------------------------------
HONORIUS - 1/2 silique - 026

------------------------------
HONORIUS - Silique - 027b

------------------------------
HONORIUS - 1/2 silique - 038b

------------------------------
HONORIUS - 1/2 silique - 039b

------------------------------
HONORIUS - Silique - 1225

------------------------------
HONORIUS - Silique - 1226

------------------------------
HONORIUS - Silique - 1228a

------------------------------
HONORIUS - Silique - 1228b

------------------------------
HONORIUS - Silique - 1228c

------------------------------
HONORIUS - Silique - 1228c

------------------------------
HONORIUS - Silique - 1228c

------------------------------
HONORIUS - 1/2 silique - 1228d

------------------------------
HONORIUS - Silique - 1228d

------------------------------
HONORIUS - Silique - 1228e

------------------------------
HONORIUS - Silique - 1228e

------------------------------