DimitriosL Posted March 9 · Member Share Posted March 9 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? 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kali Posted March 9 · Member Share Posted March 9 I bought this one, solely for the portrait. 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. 16 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amarmur Posted March 9 · Member Share Posted March 9 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 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ominus1 Posted March 9 · Supporter Share Posted March 9 ..the Valerian ll portrait on my coin reminds me of the dummy in 'Magic:.. 10 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qcumbor Posted March 9 · Supporter Share Posted March 9 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 : 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 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 14 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Collector Posted March 9 · Patron Share Posted March 9 Maybe he really looked like this! 😂 13 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sulla80 Posted March 9 · Supporter Share Posted March 9 (edited) Here are two favorite Valerian portrait. For an article with a Valerian reconstruction see: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/13041/valerian-facial-reconstruction/ This coin is the coin that first inspired any interest in these little lumps of metal. Edited March 9 by Sulla80 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DimitriosL Posted March 9 · Member Author Share Posted March 9 54 minutes ago, Kali said: I bought this one, solely for the portrait. 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DimitriosL Posted March 9 · Member Author Share Posted March 9 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DimitriosL Posted March 9 · Member Author Share Posted March 9 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 : 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 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! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DimitriosL Posted March 9 · Member Author Share Posted March 9 28 minutes ago, Sulla80 said: Here are two favorite Valerian portrait. For an article with a Valerian reconstruction see: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/13041/valerian-facial-reconstruction/ This coin is the coin that first inspired any interest in these little lumps of metal. I like the first one especially 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DimitriosL Posted March 9 · Member Author Share Posted March 9 37 minutes ago, Roman Collector said: Maybe he really looked like this! 😂 Hope not🥲 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DimitriosL Posted March 9 · Member Author Share Posted March 9 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 : 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 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 5 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orange Julius Posted March 9 · Member Share Posted March 9 Yeah at the time, there was a significant difference in portrait styles between Rome and the eastern mints as seen below: Rome mint portrait: Antioch / Eastern Mint 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DimitriosL Posted March 9 · Member Author Share Posted March 9 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: Antioch / Eastern Mint Jarring difference indeed. What was the most consistent mint , quality wise ,through the centuries i wonder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nerosmyfavorite68 Posted March 9 · Member Share Posted March 9 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. 10 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AncientOne Posted March 9 · Member Share Posted March 9 The most accurate portrait I have is on a provincial from Berytos. 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. 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) 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. 9 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted March 9 · Supporter Share Posted March 9 This Antioch issue is not too bad, at least avoiding the fish-eye syndrome 11 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qcumbor Posted March 9 · Supporter Share Posted March 9 1 hour ago, DimitriosL said: Beautiful ! Was that an easy find or ...? Q Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor DonnaML Posted March 9 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted March 9 (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. * 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 March 10 by DonnaML 9 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finn235 Posted March 9 · Member Share Posted March 9 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 8 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dafydd Posted March 9 · Supporter Share Posted March 9 Not quite sure how I would describe this portrait. He looks bemused... 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. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPK Posted March 9 · Supporter Share Posted March 9 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 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPK Posted March 9 · Supporter Share Posted March 9 5 hours ago, DimitriosL said: 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alwin Posted March 9 · Member Share Posted March 9 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 9 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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