Valerian I                253 - 260 A.D.

 

Valerian was proclaimed Augustus by his own troops following the death of Trebonianus Gallus. He was another one of the emperors whose legacy was that of fighting war after war during his reign. He was the first emperor who realized that the Empire was getting just too big and unwieldy to manage and granted co-emperor status to his son Gallienus so that he could focus wholeheartedly to the business of putting out the fires. More sensationally, he stands alone in the roster of Roman Emperors for having been kidnapped by a foreigner, in this case the Persian king Shapur. To add insult to injury, it was reported that after killing him he was stuffed and put on display in his palace!

 

AE Antoninianus 253--260 A.D.

Rome

20 mm.

Obv. IMP VALERIANVS P AVG: Radiate and draped bust right

Rev. FIDES MILITVM: Fides standing left, head right, holding two standards

SR 2883, C. 65, Van Meter 30

AE Antoninianus 253--260 A.D.

19 mm.

Obv. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG: Radiate and draped bust right

Rev. RESTITVT ORBIS: Female figure of the Orient presenting a wreath to Valerian

This coin refers to the action of Valerian in the East, ca. 253/

254 A.D., when he suppressed the usurpation of Uranius

Antoninus and recaptured Antioch from the Persians: Legend

means "Restorer of the East."

C. 188, Vagi 2277, Van Meter 71

AE Antoninianus 256--258 A.D.

Lugdunum

3.39 g., 21 mm.

Obv. DIVO VALERIANO CAES: Radiate and draped bust right

Rev. CONSACRATIO: Eagle, wings extended, standing left, head right

Goebl-910c (18 spec,), Cunetio Hoard-741 (33 spec.), C. 2, RIC 8, Van Meter 1/1