GALLIENUS AD 253-268

AE Antoninianus. 3.86g, 21.4mm

MINTED: Mediolanum (Milan) mint, AD 259 REF: RIC V 307; Göbl 1241f OBVERSE: IMP GALLIENVS P AVG, radiate head right, one ribbon behind, one forward across shoulder. REVERSE: P M TR P VII COS, Emperor, veiled, standing facing, head left, sacrificing from patera in right hand over lit altar at left, transverse scepter in left hand.

Provenance: 

Ex Phil Peck Collection (acquired from Barry P. Murphy, with his tag)

Notes:

Dark brown-green patina.

Historical Notes:

Gallienus was co-emperor with his father, Valerian, from 253 until 260, when the latter was defeated and captured by the Persian king, Shapur the Great.  History does not record if Gallienus attempted any recovery of his father, but he did continue his own sole rule of an empire that was rapidly becoming a shadow of its former self.  Much of the Roman East had been ravaged by the Persians, and the provinces of Gaul, Germany, Raetia, Britannia and Hispania broke away to form a Gallic Empire under the usurper Postumus.  After surrendering rule of the eastern provinces to the Palmyrene nobleman, Odenathus, Gallienus controlled only Italy and the Balkans directly.  While many sources paint Gallienus as an irresponsible, indolent and decadent ruler, others record that he successfully repelled a host of barbarian invaders and crushed a number of rebellions.  In fact, it was while besieging the rebel general Aureolus at Mediolanum (Milan) in 268 that Gallienus was assassinated.