Emperors of Rome - A (Chronological) Portrait Gallery

[Julius Germanicus]

An Antoninianus and a very rare Sestertius of Aemilian:

IMP AEMILIANVS PIVS FEL AVG - Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right /

PACI AVG - Pax standing facing, head left, legs crossed, holding olive-branch and transverse sceptre and resting on column

Silver Antoninianus, Rome mint, August-October 253

RIC 8, RSC 26, Hunter 13, Sear 9838

IMP CAES AEMILIANVS P F AVG - laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right /
VOTIS DECENNALIBVS SC in four lines within laurel wreath
Orichalcum Sestertius, Rome mint, struck ca. August 253 AD
29mm / 11,28 g
RIC IV 54a (RRR), Cohen 67, Hunter 25, Sear 9862, Banti 18 (same obverse die)

[shanxi]

Cornelia Supera

Mysia, Parium
Cornelia Supera (Augusta, 253)
Obv: G CORN SVPERA AVG, Diademed and draped bust right.
Rev: C G I H P, Capricorn right, holding globe; cornucopia above.
(C G I H P = Colonia Gemella Julia Hadriana Parian)
SNG von Aulock 7448, RPC IX 382
AE, 4.01g, 21 mm.

[mc9]

My only Antoninianus and favorite portrait of Aemilianus :

IMP AEMILIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Aemilian right

SPES PVBLICA, Spes advancing left, holding flower and lifting hem of skirt.

antoninianus, A.D. 253, Rome, RIC IVc 10 p.195

 

[Qcumbor]

I can show my best and my worst Aemilian at the same time 😉 

Aemilian, Antoninianus - Rome mint, 253 CE
IMP CAES AEMILIANVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind
SPES PVBLICA, Spes standing left, holding flower and lifting skirt
3.70 gr
Ref : RCV # 9844, RIC # 20, Cohen # 48

Ex @Alwin's collection

Q

[shanxi]

Aemilianus (253)
Antoninian
Rome
Obv: IMP AEMILIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, bust radiate, draped, cuirassed right
Rev: MAR-TI PACIF, Mars advancing left, holding branch, shield, and spear.
Ref.: RIC 15
Ag, 2.89g, 20.56mm

[Roman Collector]

On to Valerian I and joint reign of Gallienus!

Here are some from the deities in temple issue from Cologne during the joint reign.

Valerian I, AD 253-260.
Roman AR antoninianus, 2.69 g, 21.2 mm, 7 h.
Colonia Agrippina (Cologne) mint, AD 259-260.
Obv: VALERIANVS·P·F·AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: DEO VOLKANO, Vulcan standing left within tetrastyle temple, hammer raised in right hand, tongs downward in left.
Refs: RIC 5 (inaccurately attributed to the Lugdunum mint); Cohen 2 (inaccurately attributed to Valerian II); RSC 50c; Göbl 884d; Hunter IV 56; RCV 9934.


Gallienus, AD 253-268.
Roman billon antoninianus, 2.39 g, 21.6 mm, 6 h.
Cologne, AD 259-260.
Obv: GALLIENVS P F AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust, right.
Rev: DEO MARTI, Mars standing left in tetrastyle temple, holding shield and spear.
Refs: RIC 10F var. (joint reign); Göbl 889h; RSC 149a (Lugdunum); RCV --.

Cornelia Salonina, AD 253-268.
Roman silvered billon antoninianus, 2.66 g, 20.6 mm.
Cologne, AD 259-260 (Joint reign).
Obv: SALONINA AVG, diademed and draped bust, right.
Rev: DEAE SEGETIAE, Dea Segetia, nimbate, standing facing in tetrastyle temple.
Refs: RIC 5; Cohen 36; RCV 10631; Göbl 902c; Elmer 96; Hunter 21.
Notes: Some attribute to Lyons mint, AD 258.

 

 

[dougsmit]

Two Valerian CONCORdia variations honor the army. 

CONCOREXERC

 

CONCORLEGG

 

My last is an odd case where two flans stuck together but separated after striking.  I have the obverse. It is very unlikely I will ever find the reverse.  I'd guess the chance would be slightly less than winning a billion dollar lottery even considering that I don't buy tickets. 

[DonnaML]

I have a couple of Valerian I's; for the first I prefer the reverse and for the second I prefer the portrait:

Valerian I, Billon Antoninianus, AD 255-256 [Sear RCV III p. 269], Antioch Mint [or, “uncertain Syrian mint”; see id.]. Obv. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG / Rev. Two Victories affixing shield inscribed S•C to palm tree between them, VOTA ORBIS. RIC V.1 294, RSC IV 280 var. [no cuirass on RSC coin], Sear RCV III 9996 (ill. p. 269); Göbl MIR 1682e [R. Göbl et al., , etMoneta Imperii Romani, Band 35: Die Münzprägung des Kaiser Valerianus I / Gallienus / Saloninus / (253/268), etc. (Vienna, 2000)]. Purchased from Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 98, 16 Jun 2022, Lot 1411. 

I'm still not aware of another specimen with a design and legends exactly like the next one; none of the catalog descriptions precisely matches:

Valerian I, Silvered Billon Antoninianus, 257 AD [Göbl: 253/254 AD], Mediolanum [Milan] Mint [RIC, RSC] or Viminacium Mint [Sear, Göbl] [Viminacium was the capital of Moesia Superior and was located in what is now Eastern Serbia near Kostolac.]. Obv. Radiate, draped bust right, IMP VALERIANVS P AVG/ Rev. Virtus standing left, chiton off right shoulder (leaving right breast bare), holding Victory with right hand and resting left hand on shield, with reversed spear propped against left arm, VIRTVS AVGG. RIC V-1 267 (Milan) (p. 58) obv. leg. var.* [RIC identifies reverse figure as a soldier; Wildwinds identifies reverse figure on RIC 267 as Virtus (see http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/valerian_I/i.html)]; Cohen 258 obv. leg. var. [Cohen identifies figure as Virtus or Roma], RSC IV 258 (Milan) obv. leg. var. [identifying reverse figure as soldier]; Sear RCV III 9992 obv. leg.var. [identifying reverse figure as Virtus, but characterizing Virtus as male; ascribed to Viminacium Mint for unstated reasons] (ill.); Göbl 811d (same obv. leg.) [identifying reverse figure as Virtus; Viminacium mint] [R. Göbl et al., Moneta Imperii Romani, Band 35: Die Münzprägung des Kaiser Valerianus I / Gallienus / Saloninus / (253/268), Regalianus (260) und Macrianus / Quietus (260/262) (Vienna, 2000)]; Cunetio 770 (same obv. leg.) [identifying reverse figure as Virtus] [Besly, E. & R. Bland, The Cunetio Treasure: Roman Coinage of the Third Century AD (London, 1983)]; Adeilson Nogueira, Valeriano, Na Numismatica Romana (Brazil, 2018) at p. 11 (see https://tinyurl.com/qpb659c) [identifying reverse figure as Virtus]; Chalfont hoard 328 [R. Bland, ed., The Chalfont Hoard and Other Roman Coin Hoards, Coin Hoards from Roman Britain IX (London, 1992)]; Stevenage hoard 529 [A.M. Burnett & R.F. Bland, eds., Coin Hoards from Roman Britain: The Normanby Hoard and Other Roman Coin Hoards, CHRB VIII (London, 1988) at pp. 43-73]. 22.5 mm., 3.4 g.

* RIC, RSC, Cohen, and Sear all identify the obverse legend on this coin type as IMP P LIC VALERIANO AVG rather than IMP VALERIANVS P AVG; the coins appear to be otherwise identical to this one.  None of them lists a Valerian antoninianus with the IMP VALERIANVS P AVG obverse legend and a reverse with the VIRTVS AVG [RIC V-1 266] or VIRTVS AVGG [RIC V-1 267] legend, as well as the reverse figure -- however identified -- with spear and shield and holding Victory.

I know what the schedule says, but because this type was issued during Valerian I's reign, I believe that it properly belongs with him rather than with Gallienus:

Diva Mariniana (deceased wife of Valerian I), Silvered Billon Antoninianus. 254-258 AD, Viminacium [Rome?] Mint. Obv. DIVAE MARINIANAE, Veiled and draped bust right on crescent/ Rev. CONSECRATIO, Peacock standing, head right, tail in splendor. RSC IV 4, RIC V-1 4, Sear RCV III 10068.  21.5 mm., 3.9 g.  

These are the only coins of Gallienus I have that were apparently issued before Valerian I became a footstool, although most of them are dated very close to the end of the joint reign:

This one has a terrible reverse, but I kind of like the portrait:

Gallienus (son of Valerian I), Silvered Billon Antoninianus, 255-256 AD, Samasota Mint. Obv. Radiate, draped, & cuirassed bust right, IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS P F AVG/ Rev. Gallienus stdg. right, holding spear/scepter, receiving globe from Jupiter standing facing left, holding scepter, wreath in upper center, IOVI CONSERVATORI.  RIC V-1 440(j) [joint reign], RSC IV 379.  20 mm., 4.0 g.

All the other Gallienus coins I have that are supposedly from the joint reign are part of the Legionary Series. All footnotes omitted.

Gallienus (son of Valerian I), Billon Antoninianus, 260-261 AD [Sear], 260 AD [Reinhardt], 258 AD [RIC], Mediolanum [Milan] Mint, 2nd emission (Göbl and Reinhardt), Legionary Issue. Obv. Radiate and cuirassed bust right, two ribbons behind, GALLIENVS AVG / Rev. Capricorn springing right, LEG I ADI VI P VI F ( = Legio I Adiutrix [“Rescuer”] [based in Brigetio, Pannonia], VI Pia, VI Fidelis [see fn.]). RIC V-1 315j [joint reign], RSC IV 447 (ill. p. 77), Sear RCV III 10252, Göbl MIR [Moneta Imperii Romani] Band 36, No. 982r [ill. with other legionary series coins at http://www258.pair.com/denarius/cgi-bin/erfind.pl?sstring=legio+milan (Ed Flinn’s site Coinage of Gallienus and Family), and at Reinhardt p. 180, no. 5 (Frank Reinhardt, José de Sousa, & Heidemarie Bieker, Gallienvs Antoninianii, The Antoninianii Collection of Gallienus by Frank Reinhardt (Eng. trans. 2022), available at https://www.academia.edu/77282280/GALLIENUS_ANTONINIANII_English_version_PDF )]. 22 mm., 2.8 g, 12 h.  Purchased from Leu Numismatik AG, Winterthur, Switzerland, Web Auction 21, 19 Jul 2022, Lot 4869; ex Collection of Dipl.-Ing. [ = Engineering Master’s Degree] Adrian Lang, b. Germany 1956 [see https://leunumismatik.com/source/images/auction/36/pdf/b2acb9be-1e8d-4395-a863-6c5c7c37ed4b.pdf for biography]; ex Jesus Vico Auction 133, 15 Nov. 2012, Lot 2549.

Gallienus (son of Valerian I), Billon Antoninianus, 260-261 AD [Sear], 260 AD [Reinhardt], 258 AD [RIC], Mediolanum [Milan] Mint, 2nd emission (Göbl and Reinhardt), Legionary Issue. Obv. Radiate and cuirassed bust right, two ribbons behind, GALLIENVS AVG / Rev. Centaur with beard galloping right, raising his right hand in salute and holding club in left hand, LEG II PART VI P VI F ( = Legio II Parthica [based on the Alban mountain near Rome], VI Pia, VI Fidelis [see fn.]). RIC V-1 336j [joint reign], RSC IV 483, Sear RCV III 10262 (ill. p. 294), Göbl MIR [Moneta Imperii Romani] Band 36, No. 997r [ill. with other legionary series coins at http://www258.pair.com/denarius/cgi-bin/erfind.pl?sstring=legio+milan (Ed Flinn’s site Coinage of Gallienus and Family), and at Reinhardt p. 187, no. 6 (Frank Reinhardt, José de Sousa, & Heidemarie Bieker, Gallienvs Antoninianii, The Antoninianii Collection of Gallienus by Frank Reinhardt (Eng. trans. 2022), available at https://www.academia.edu/77282280/GALLIENUS_ANTONINIANII_English_version_PDF )]. 22 mm., 2.8 g, 12 h.  Purchased from Leu Numismatik AG, Winterthur, Switzerland, Web Auction 21, 19 Jul 2022, Lot 4872; ex Collection of Dipl.-Ing. [ = Engineering Master’s Degree] Adrian Lang, b. Germany 1956 [see https://leunumismatik.com/source/images/auction/36/pdf/b2acb9be-1e8d-4395-a863-6c5c7c37ed4b.pdf for biography] .

On this last one, the surfaces on both sides are quite dreadful, but I still find the bellowing bull rather appealing:

Gallienus (son of Valerian I), Billon Antoninianus, 260-261 AD [Sear], 260 AD [Reinhardt], 258 AD [RIC], Mediolanum [Milan] Mint, 2nd emission (Göbl and Reinhardt), Legionary Issue. Obv. Radiate and cuirassed bust right, two ribbons behind, GALLIENVS AVG / Rev. Bull advancing right, bellowing with head raised and mouth open, LEG VIII AVG [Augusta] [based at Argentoratum in Germania Superior] VI P [Pia] VI F [Fidelis].  RIC V-1 353j [joint reign] (p. 95), RSC IV 522, Sear RCV III 10268, Göbl MIR [Moneta Imperii Romani] Band 36, No. 1009h [ill. with other legionary series coins at http://www258.pair.com/denarius/cgi-bin/erfind.pl?sstring=legio+milan (Ed Flinn’s site Coinage of Gallienus and Family); bust type not. ill in Reinhardt]. 2.18 mm., 2.49 g.

[Shea19]

Valerian: 2 imperial and a big provincial bronze (each with completely different portrait styles)

Valerian I, Cilicia, Corycus, (AE 36 mm, 20.02 g).  Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Valerian I to right./ Rev. Dionysos standing left, holding bunch of grapes (or kantharos) in right hand and thyrsos in left; at feet to left, panther; before him, prize urn inscribed ΘΕΜΙΑ and containing grain-ear and poppy set on tripod. From the Vineyard Collection

And a joint reign Gallienus…nice portrait on a ragged flan.

Edited February 28, 2023 by Shea19

[Severus Alexander]

I bought this first issue Viminacium ant of Valerian in part because of its nice, naturalistic portrait. The dealer photo (first) probably shows off the portrait a bit better than mine does? (But I like how mine shows the surfaces.)

In stark contrast, here's a later eastern (Samosata) portrait:

As for Gallienus in the joint reign, there's lots of variation and I don't have that many.  This is my favourite by a large margin (Cologne mint):

But WOW... @Shea19's joint reign portrait is maybe the best I've ever seen!!  Awesome coin, @Shea19!!

15 minutes ago, Shea19 said:

And a joint reign Gallienus…nice portrait on a ragged flan.

[Octavius]

 A couple of Antoniniani of Valerianus...

[mc9]

My favorite Valerianus coins :

IMP P LIC VALERIANO AVG : Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right

VICTORIA GERMANICA, Victory standing facing, head left, leaning upon shield and holding palm branch; at feet to left, bound captive left

Antoninianus, Viminacium, A.D. 253, RIC Va 264

IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG : Bust of Valerian, radiate, draped, facing right

FIDES MILITVM : Fides, draped, standing left, holding two ensigns

A.D. 253, Antoninianus, Rome, RIC Va 89

IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG : radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right

RESTITVT OR IENTIS : the Orient standing right, presenting wreath to Valerian, standing left and holding scepter. Antoninianus, Samosata, AD 253, RIC Va 287

[shanxi]

Gallienus joint reign:

Gallienus
Billon-Antoninian
Obv.: IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS P F AVG, Radiate and cuirassed bust right.
Rev.: PROVIDENTIA AVGG, Providentia standing facing, head left, holding cornucopia and baton; globe at feet to left
Billon, 3.53g, 21.5mm
Ref.: RIC 159

[Spaniard]

I like this Valerian portrait and the rendition of Felicitas is well detailed for the type..

Valerian I AR Antoninianus.Rome AD 255-256 ...2.93g
Obverse..IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS PF AVG, radiate, draped bust right
Reverse..FELICITAS AVGG, Felicitas standing left holding caduceus and cornucopiae.
RIC 87, Cohen 55; Sear 9936

[mc9]

Gallienus joint reign :

GALLIENVS P.F.AVG : Radiate and cuirassed bust left, holding spear over right shoulder and shield in his left hand

IOVI VICTORI : Jupiter, holding Victory and scepter, standing, on cippus inscribed IMP/C E S in two lines

Antoninianus, Colonia Agrippinensis, AD 257-258, RIC Va 21

GALLIENVS P F AVG : radiate and cuirassed bust right

 DEO MARTI : Mars standing left in tetrastyle temple, holding shield and spear

Antoninianus, Lugdunum , 257-258 AD, RIC Va 10

GALLIENVS P F AVG : Radiate and cuirassed bust of Gallienus to right

VIRT GALLIENI AVG : Gallienus walking to right, holding spear in r. hand and shield in left and treading on fallen enemy

Antoninianus, Cologne, 258-259, RIC Va 54 var

IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS P F AVG : radiate and cuirassed bust to right

 PROVIDENTIA AVGG :  Providentia standing to left, holding baton and cornucopiae; globe at feet on left.

Antoninianus, Rome, AD 255-256, RIC Va 159

 

 

Edited February 28, 2023 by mc9

[ominus1]

..group shot of my Valerian clan coinage..

[LONGINUS]

Great Valerian and Gallienus gallery of portraits.

 

[LONGINUS]

10 hours ago, Roman Collector said:

On to Valerian I and joint reign of Gallienus!

Great chart, @Roman Collector!

 

 

 

 

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

A variety of Gallienus and Valerianus coins...after a relief showing the supplicant emperor...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Julius Germanicus]

 

IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG - Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Valerian Senior right, seen from front /

FELICITAS AVGG - Felicitas standing left, diademed and wearing tunica and palla, holding long caduceus in right and cornucopia in left hand, S C in exergue

Sestertius, Rome ca. 255-258

29,43 mm / 16,46 gr

RIC 157, Cohen 58, Sear 10011, Banti 8 corr. (3 specimens) 

DIVAE MARINIANAE - Veiled, diademed bust of Mariniana to the right /

CONSECRATIO S C - Peacock standing facing

Sestertius, Rome 253/54

26 mm / 15,57 gr

RIC 9 corr, Cohen 7, Banti 2 (12 specimens) 

IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS AVG - Laureate bust right, wearing paludamentum and cuirass -

VIRTVS AVGG S C – Virtus standing frontal, head left, holding vertical spear reversed and shield resting on ground

Sestertius, Rome mint, September 253- early 254 AD

26,8 mm / 14,24 gr

RIC 248, Cohen 1295, MIR 36, 38bb, Sear 10495, Banti 82 (6 specimens) 

IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS P F AVG - Laureate and cuirassed bust right /

VICTORIA AVGG S C - Victoria standing left, holding wreath and palm

Sestertius, Rome 253 (joint reign, first emission)

30,14 mm /  21,20 gr

RIC 243, Cohen 1140, Göbl MIR 30 dd, Banti 68 (3 specimens)

VALERIANVS CAES - Radiate and draped bust of Valerian II right /

IOVI CRESCENTI - child Jupiter riding right on the goat Amalthea, looking left, right hand raised, left hand holding goat´s horn

Antoninianus, Cologne, late 256- early 258

RIC 3, Göbl/MIR 907e, Elmer 67a, Sear 10731 

 

[Ursus]

Valerian I:

Valerian I, Roman Empire, AR antoninianus, 258 AD, Cologne (?) mint. Obv: Obv: VALERIANVS P F AVG; bust of Valerian I, radiate, draped, l. Rev: DEO VOLKANO; Vulcan, draped, wearing pilos, standing l. in temple, holding hammer in r. hand and pincers in l. hand; at his feet l., anvil. 22mm, 3.16g. Ref: RIC V Valerian 5.

Valerian I, Roman Empire, AR antoninianus, 258–259 AD, Cologne (?) mint (RIC: Lugdunum mint), Obv: VALERIANVS P F AVG; draped, cuirassed, radiate bust of Valerian I r. Rev: ORIENS AVGG; Sol standing l., raising r. hand and holding globe in l. hand. 21mm, 2.86g. Ref: RIC V Valerian 13.

Valerian I, Roman Empire, AR antoninianus, 253/4 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG; bust of Valerian, radiate, draped, cuirassed, r. Rev: APOLINI PROPVG; Apollo, nude except for cloak flying behind, standing r., drawing bow. 22mm, 3,58. Ref: RIC V Valerian 74; MIR 36, 44d.

Valerian I, Roman Empire, AR/BI antoninian, 253 AD, Viminacium (?) mint. Obv: IMP P LIC VALERIANO AVG; bust of Valerian I, radiate, draped, cuirassed r. Rev: VICTORIA GERMANICA Victory standing l. holding palm and resting r. hand on shield; at feet, captive. 21mm, 4.08g. Ref: RIC V Valerian 264 (for Milan); MIR 36, 793d.

[wittwolff]

An heroic but unlucky family:

[Qcumbor]

My best Valerian is this rather rare as :

Valerian, As - Rome mint, 255-258 CE
IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt and scepter. S - C in field
10.0 gr
Ref : RCV # 10032, Cohen # 96

 

And my best joint reign best antoninianus is this silvered one

Gallienus, Antoninianus - Cologne mint, 257-258 CE
GALLIENVS PF AVG, Radiate and cuirassed bust of Gallienus, seen from front
VIRTVS AVGG, Virtus, standing right, holding spear and standard
3,93 gr
Ref : RCV #10413, Cohen #1309, Göbl # 8821

Q

[Molag Bal]

Here's a newish Gallienus I haven't posted before with a GALLIENVS AVG GERM V legend

MIR 872q (10 ex) 

Cologne, 21mm, 3.78g.

From the Brian Holland Collection. Ex C.G. Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 167, 27 June 2007), lot 182; Stack’s (11 February 1990), lot 393.

I like the style of Cologne but wish they had produced a greater variety of reverses types. 

Edited February 28, 2023 by Molag Bal

[ominus1]

5 hours ago, wittwolff said:

An heroic but unlucky family:

that's a very nice lay-out.. :)...