Jump to content

Any good Valerian portraits?


Recommended Posts

Greetings,

I face difficulties finding me some proper Valerian I portraits. Most fall victim to the fish eye curse or straight up look like caricatures. Do you have any good depictions that are also “bust” accurate? 

  • Like 4
  • Thinking 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I bought this one, solely for the portrait.

valcon0.jpg.bfcb3dd9580de58bd45bb48d042bee46.jpg

Valerian I (253 - 260 A.D.)
AR Antoninianus
O: IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG, radiate, draped bust right.
R: CONCORDIA EXERCIT, Concordia standing left holding patera and double cornucopiae.
21mm
3g
RIC 81, Cohen 39; Sear 9929.

  • Like 17
  • Heart Eyes 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 minutes ago, DimitriosL said:

Greetings,

I face difficulties finding me some proper Valerian I portraits. Most fall victim to the fish eye curse or straight up look like caricatures. Do you have any good depictions that are also “bust” accurate? 

I think Sestertii of Valerian tend to have nicer and more realistic portraits. The antoniannius is kinda half baked and rushed. Most are kinda crude looking 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I fully agree : finding good portraits of Vaerian is very challenging (as is finding good portraits of Commodus on a denarius TBH).

In my 40 years of collecting ancients I found those, which aren't too bad :

7faf86d15927416db3d1a195c15c596a.jpg

Valerian, Antoninianus - Rome mint, 253-255 CE
IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
FIDES MILITVM, Fides Militum standing left, holding two standards
3.66 gr
Ref : RCV # 9938(45), Cohen # 65

 

6f371c8c0eeb41fc8b469d0f441fd964.jpg

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

Q

  • Like 15
  • Heart Eyes 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

54 minutes ago, Kali said:

I bought this one, solely for the portrait.

valcon0.jpg.bfcb3dd9580de58bd45bb48d042bee46.jpg

Valerian I (253 - 260 A.D.)
AR Antoninianus
O: IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG, radiate, draped bust right.
R: CONCORDIA EXERCIT, Concordia standing left holding patera and double cornucopiae.
21mm
3g
RIC 81, Cohen 39; Sear 9929.

Now thats a beautiful Valerian

Link to comment
Share on other sites

53 minutes ago, Amarmur said:

I think Sestertii of Valerian tend to have nicer and more realistic portraits. The antoniannius is kinda half baked and rushed. Most are kinda crude looking 

Yeah similar case with decius on a previous thread. Same because i am very skeptical with bronze alloy pieces. Been burnt several times by BD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

48 minutes ago, Qcumbor said:

I fully agree : finding good portraits of Vaerian is very challenging (as is finding good portraits of Commodus on a denarius TBH).

In my 40 years of collecting ancients I found those, which aren't too bad :

7faf86d15927416db3d1a195c15c596a.jpg

Valerian, Antoninianus - Rome mint, 253-255 CE
IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
FIDES MILITVM, Fides Militum standing left, holding two standards
3.66 gr
Ref : RCV # 9938(45), Cohen # 65

 

6f371c8c0eeb41fc8b469d0f441fd964.jpg

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

Q

Very very nice mate!

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

53 minutes ago, Qcumbor said:

I fully agree : finding good portraits of Vaerian is very challenging (as is finding good portraits of Commodus on a denarius TBH).

In my 40 years of collecting ancients I found those, which aren't too bad :

7faf86d15927416db3d1a195c15c596a.jpg

Valerian, Antoninianus - Rome mint, 253-255 CE
IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
FIDES MILITVM, Fides Militum standing left, holding two standards
3.66 gr
Ref : RCV # 9938(45), Cohen # 65

 

6f371c8c0eeb41fc8b469d0f441fd964.jpg

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

Yeah Commodus is tricky. I found this piece , however , and fell in love with the portrait not minding the overall condition 

IMG_4102.webp

IMG_4103.webp

  • Like 5
  • Heart Eyes 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

29 minutes ago, Orange Julius said:

Yeah at the time, there was a significant difference in portrait styles between Rome and the eastern mints as seen below:

Rome mint portrait:
ValerianRIC____.JPG.882daeda819c523d87e063b7646d6dbb.JPG

Antioch / Eastern Mint
ValerianAntiochRICV-1-277.JPG.ec760fbe099d98b8aab0cb9b185c8f43.JPG

Jarring difference indeed. What was the most consistent mint , quality wise ,through the centuries i wonder.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

ValerianI-(253-260)-ARAntoninianus-RICVI5Cologne22_26mm.2.55gDEOVOLKANO.jpg.be64d9fea97cdc5a15dd2f45a771a396.jpg

Valerian I - (253-260) - AR Antoninianus - RIC VI 5 Cologne, 22.26mm. 2.55g DEO VOLKANO

I don't have too many Valerians, and most aren't photographed.  Although the above isn't in the greatest state of preservation, I purchased it for the nice portrait.

The mint also has something to do with it.  Antioch is almost certain to have the 'fish eye', which is why I usually avoid that mint.  Cologne and Rome are much more likely to have something nice, in my opinion.

 

  • Like 10
  • Heart Eyes 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The most accurate portrait I have is on a provincial from Berytos.

 

Clipboard170.jpg.890aeb910cb2b7f4385ffd4a43a94807.jpg

Valerian Antoninianus, 254-255 AD. Diana Lucifera

Obv: IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG, Radiate, draped bust right.
Rev: FELICITAS SAECVLI. Diana Lucifera draped walking to the right, holding a lit torch in both hands; the head surmounted by a crescent moon.

 

nicaea.jpg.d1ae28e31d69154f894dd32e0a0047d8.jpg

Bithynia, Nicaea. Valerian (253-260). AE26

Obv: ΠΟV ΛΙΚ ΟVΑΛΕΡΙΑΝΟC CEB / Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust left, raising hand and holding eagle-tipped sceptre over shoulder.
Rev: NIKAIEΩN / Gallienus and Valerian I facing each other in military dress, clasping hands and each holding a spear; Valerian II, togate, standing left, holding patera.
Cf. SNG Copenhagen 536.
RPC X, — (unassigned; ID 74488)

 

berytosValerian.jpg.93e6090ac986a32666dd8185d653962f.jpg

Phoenicia, Berytos. Valerian AE30. Astarte

Obv: IMP CP LIC VALERIANVS AVG, Radiate bust right.
Rev: COL IVL AVG FEL BER, Astarte standing front with head right, left foot on prow, holding standard in right hand and aphlastron in left, raising robe. To right Nike on column, crowning her.
30mm and 15.3g.

  • Like 9
  • Heart Eyes 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Benefactor
Posted (edited)

This is my only decent portrait of Valerian I. [Edited to add: I have been unable to find another specimen with the same obverse legend, so as far as I know it's unpublished in this exact variety. See footnote.]

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.

image.png.9ab3d078e17cba4008a9f12cbff2f937.png

* 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.

Edited by DonnaML
  • Like 10
  • Heart Eyes 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not quite sure how I would describe this portrait. He looks bemused...

image.gif.a3964805e09d4c05314c30ce93949a92.gif

256-260 AD. Uncertain Syrian mint. Obv: IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG legend with radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: PIETAS AVGG legend with Valerian and Gallienus standing, facing each other, sacrificing over altar, one holding eagle-tipped sceptre, the other a parazonium. RIC 285; Sear 9955 (obverse variant").3.64 grams.

  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted · Supporter
46 minutes ago, Finn235 said:

I had the same issue so I ended up having to drop way more than I was hoping on this one a year or so ago

ValerianIAPOLINIPROPVG.jpg.d55e0480ff518d945a84a984ec4ad3cf.jpg

That's a great portrait, but the reverse is no less artistic! I don't recall, offhand, seeing a drawn bow like that on an ancient coin.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Posted · Supporter
5 hours ago, DimitriosL said:

IMG_4102.webp

IMG_4103.webp

A beautiful coin that looked oddly familiar...until I checked my biddr watch list! 😄 Thought that looked like an Artemide photo. Nice score! I didn't bid on it, but I ended up winning another coin from that auction - somewhat unexpectedly as I anticipated being outbid during the live session.

  • Laugh 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

611.jpg.884639df3dab5c72ea1651650d84419e.jpg

VALERIAN I
Sestertius

Rome, 253-255
S 10012 v. - C 69 - RIC Va 161
18.89 g - 29.5 mm
IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG, laureate bust right
FIDES MILITVM, Fides standing left, holding two standards; S C

  • Like 10
  • Heart Eyes 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...