VALERIAN II, Caesar
AD 256-258AE Antoninianus. 3.59g, 21.9mm
MINTED: Rome mint, AD 258. Posthumous issue.
REF: RIC V 27 (S)
OBVERSE: DIVO CAES VALERIANO, radiate and draped bust right.
REVERSE: CONSECRATIO, eagle standing left, wings spread, head right.
Grade/Notes:Almost Very Fine/Fine. Gray surfaces with slight porosity. Weak strike on reverse.
A scarcer type.
Historical Notes:
Valerian II was a teenager when he accompanied his father Emperor Gallienus to Illyria. From there, Gallienus embarked on a campaign against Germanic tribes invading Gaul, and Valerian was left in the care of Ingenuus, the Governor of Pannonia and Moesia at Sirmium. When Valerian died under suspicious circumstances in early 258, it seems Ingenuus suffered a demotion as a result and later became a usurper who attempted an unsuccessful rebellion against Gallienus.
