Gallienus Sestertius VOTIS DECENNALIBVS SC

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

In the year 253 Valerian and Gallienus assumed joint rule following the defeat of Aemilianus. This coin struck on a full flan in 253 expresses best wishes (or prayers) for ten years of rule. Purchased from Marc Breitsprecher, November 2024

As the last ruler to strike sestertii, I find this an interesting sub collection type. In so doing, it joins my existing FIDES MILITVM sestertius of the joint reign as well as another inbound acquisition, VIRTVS AVG from London Ancient Coins currently in the mail. The sestertius was only struck in the early to mid 250's and disappeared with the introduction of AE antoniniani and reduction of its silver content to a thin surface wash, though with a great abundance of obverse and reverse types. The bronze sestertius denomination, with a lineage going back to Augustus and the Republic (in silver), was no more.

Gallienus, 253-268 C.E.

Type: Orichalcum sestertius, 30.12 mm 14.43 grams

Obverse: IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS AVG, Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right

Reverse: VOTIS DECENNA LIBVS S C in four lines within wreath

Reference: RIC Vi 250 Rome mint, Cohen 1342

From the Jeff Clark VOTA collection.

Note: this coin is relatively rare, Wildwinds lists the following example relating to this scarce type:

GALLIENUS. 253-268 AD. Æ Sestertius (18.59 gm). Struck 253 AD. IMP C P LIC
GALLIENVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind
/ VOTIS/DECENNA/LIBVS/S C, legend in four lines within wreath. RIC V pt.
1, 250; Cohen 1342. Choice EF, brown patina with some green encrustation.
Scarce type with a nice portrait. ($2000) From the Robert Schonwalter
Collection. The consignor purchased this coin from the well-regarded coin
dealer, Marcel Silton, in 1970.


Triton V Sale, 16 Jan 2002, lot 2098.

Lot sold for $1300, plus buyers fees.

By permission of CNG, www.cngcoins.com.

Please share any sestertii or other coins of Gallienus that you wish!

Edited November 15, 2024 by Ancient Coin Hunter

[Molag Bal]

Congrats! I recently got an antoninianus celebrating 10 years from Gallienus's sole reign and would love to get a sestertius someday. Mine is also from the Jeff Clark collection. 

[CPK]

Nice one! I like Gallienus's sestertii. I've yet to acquire one myself though.

[Octavius]

his is my one and only sestertius of Gallienus - with reverse of VIRTVUS AUG. Typical irregolar flan.

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

Very neat pieces.

However, Diocletian was the last emperor to issue sestertii.  Gallienus or Postumus were the last to issue sestertii as we think of them.  Aurelian was the last to issue affordable sestertii.

While I am unfamilar with Mr. Clark, I have a nice Gallus Clark sestertius, also from Marc B.  I remember that one from his stock.  I sometimes collect Gallienus sestertii.

Here's one of the scarce/rare reduced sestertii of Gallienus:

 

Orichalcum sestertius, RIC V 216, C -, aVF/F, 12.464g, 25.2mm, 180^o, Rome mint, [IMP C P LIC GALLI]ENVS AVG, laureate and draped bust right; reverse [IOV]I CONSERVATORI S C, Jupiter standing left, thunderbolt in right, scepter in left; ex: Forum, 2009.

[Julius Germanicus]

11 hours ago, Ancient Coin Hunter said:

The sestertius was only struck in the early to mid 250's and disappeared with the introduction of AE antoniniani and reduction of its silver content to a thin surface wash, though with a great abundance of obverse and reverse types. The bronze sestertius denomination, with a lineage going back to Augustus and the Republic (in silver), was no more.

The final regular Sestertii by Gallienus (featuring the traditional SC) were struck in 262 AD (like my Salonina specimen) during the sole reign of Gallienus. Likewise all Sestertii (and radiate "Double Sestertii") produced in the realm of Postumus after this point seem to be barbarized and overstruck.

[Julius Germanicus]

4 hours ago, Nerosmyfavorite68 said:

However, Diocletian was the last emperor to issue sestertii.  Gallienus or Postumus were the last to issue sestertii as we think of them.  Aurelian was the last to issue affordable sestertii.

Do we know that those rare middle sized bronzes struck after Gallienus were indeed meant to be Sestertii? They do not feature the traditional SC and Diocletian´s only weight a mere 5 grams.

That is indeed not what we think of as a Sestertius - a coin that started out with a nominal weight of 27,3 grams (one roman ounce) and an average diameter of 35 mm in the first century (it went down to an average 20 gr and 30 mm by 200 AD and a mere 11,66 grams and 28 mm on my 262 AD Salonina).

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

I've always agreed with Matt Kreuzer's assertion that they were meant to be sestertii.  He was a pretty early proponent of such, back during the 1990's.  It would make every sense that the denomination would have shrunken with debasement and an as is something like 32 to the Antoninianus, if I'm not mistaken?  An as would have been really worthless by the 280's.

My perticular hunch is that they were given out during largesses.

Per the S-C, keep in mind that Gallienus stripped the Senate of many of it's perks.  Why would it be too surprising that the S-C disappeared?  That is just my personal opinion, of course.

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Thanks for the clarification. I should have said traditional sestertii issued by the central empire.

[Tejas]

I don't have a sestertius of Gallienus. I just found the coin below on Ebay and since it is a type that I was after for a long time, I bought it.

 

Obv.: IMP GALLIENVS P AVG

Rev.: IOVI VICTORI / IMP CES (IMPERATOR CUM EXERCITO SUO)

Mint: Cologne or Treveri

Weight: 3.4g

RIC 21

[Qcumbor]

Interesting OP sestertius !

 

Mr & Ms Gallienus

Gallienus, Sestertius - Rome mint, 253-255 CE
IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS AVG, Laureate and draped and cuirassed bust of Gallienus right
CONCORDIA EXERCIT, Concordia standing left, holding double cornucopia and patera.
18.5 gr
Ref : RIC # 209, Göbl # 15dd, Cohen #132, RCV #10467

 

Salonina, Sestertius - Rome mint, 256-260 CE
CORNELIA SALONINA AVG, Diademed and draped bust of Salonina right
IVNO REGINA, Juno standing left, with patera and sceptre, SC in field
20.05 gr
Ref : RIC # 46, RCV #10679, Cohen #62

Q

[thejewk]

RIC 181 (awaiting Wolkow's book for a proper attribution)

GALLIENVS AVG 

DIANAE CONS AVG - XII

3.63g, 21mm

No sestertius, but this coin just arrived today as the first in a new sub-collection, and I ordered 3 more this morning in a bargain group lot along with Cedric Wolkow's little reference book.

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

I'm sure you are referring to the "zoo" series @thejewk. Certainly an admirable collecting goal....

[thejewk]

1 hour ago, Ancient Coin Hunter said:

I'm sure you are referring to the "zoo" series @thejewk. Certainly an admirable collecting goal....

Yes, sorry, I wasn't clear at all was I!  I'd actually like to collect more than just the 'Zoo' series for Gallienus, but first and foremost I'll be going for those.  I actually want to expand out to animal and mythical creatures in ancient coinage more generally as well, but this series is so interesting and attractive in its own weird way that I haven't been able to help myself once I pressed the buy button on the first one.

When I collect any period of coinage, it has to be very affordable due to my limited budget, and Gallienus combines a fascinating historical period with an abundant and relatively low cost set of options.

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

On 11/15/2024 at 10:32 AM, thejewk said:

Yes, sorry, I wasn't clear at all was I!  I'd actually like to collect more than just the 'Zoo' series for Gallienus, but first and foremost I'll be going for those.  I actually want to expand out to animal and mythical creatures in ancient coinage more generally as well, but this series is so interesting and attractive in its own weird way that I haven't been able to help myself once I pressed the buy button on the first one.

When I collect any period of coinage, it has to be very affordable due to my limited budget, and Gallienus combines a fascinating historical period with an abundant and relatively low cost set of options.

Just got the Leu web auction notice. They have a large number of Gallienus coins available mostly starting at 25 Swiss francs so there might be a good opportunity to pick some up.

[thejewk]

8 hours ago, Ancient Coin Hunter said:

Just got the Leu web auction notice. They have a large number of Gallienus coins available mostly starting at 25 Swiss francs so there might be a good opportunity to pick some up.

Thanks! Some nice looking pieces there, but unfortunately I'm overspent at the moment, thanks to that small group lot I purchased last week. 

It does contain an interesting rarity though, and for £6.50 a coin I couldn't say no.  Will share more when they arrive.

I did receive the Wolkow reference for 'du Bestiaire' yesterday: https://bnumis.com/boutique/775-catalogue-des-monnaies-romaines-gallien-lemission-dite-du-bestiaire-edition-2019.html

It's an excellent little book, and I will be grabbing the others in the same series shortly.