GALLIENUS
AD 253-268 
AE Antoninianus. 2.37g, 20.4mm
MINTED: Mediolanum (Milan) mint, 1st officina, issue 7, AD 266
REF: MIR 36, 1322d; RIC V (sole reign) 461 var. (obv. legend); Cunetio 1754
OBVERSE: IM[P GALLIENV]S P F AVG GER, radiate head right.
REVERSE: P M TR [P VII CO]S, emperor standing left, sacrificing with patera over field altar and holding baton; MP in exergue.
 
Grade/Notes:
Very Fine/Almost Very Fine.  Bold portrait. Irregular flan; struck from a worn reverse die. 
This coin was struck at Mediolanum (Milan) before Gallienus lost control of the city to Aureolus, his Commander of the Cavalry who revolted in 268.  Gallienus was assassinated in September 268 while laying siege to the city.  
 
Provenance:
Ex N. M. McQ. Holmes Collection, ex Spink Numismatic Circular CI.4 (May 1993), no. 3386
 
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.