Another Roman empress added

[ambr0zie]

As I mentioned, last auction meant addition of 3 new royal portraits in my collection. But only one on an Imperial coin. 

This was the last coin I bought in the auction, my budget was limited and seeing the general trend in the auction, I was not expecting a win as this was again won with the maximum bid I intended to offer (and the only bid in fact) 

18 mm, 3,59 g.
Diva Mariniana. Died before 253 AD. AR Antoninianus. Rome. Struck 256-257 AD.
DIVAE MARINIANAE, veiled, diademed and draped bust right, set on crescent / CONSECRATIO, peacock, with tail in splendor, standing facing, head to left.
RIC 3; RSC 2.

The general aspect of the coin made me a little worry - as the bubbles in the pics (both mine and the original pics) made me wonder if this is not a cast. In hand the coin looks very normal - here is a video attempt 

Not the best Mariniana from the market, not the best dies/strike, but an appealing coin in my opinion. And the most important - I managed to complete Valerian's dynasty. 

There is not much known about Mariniana - except for the fact that she died before her husband, Valerian, was proclamed emperor (253 AD) and there are some coins with her portrait from this period. 

As for Valerian, many people here know his story - his destiny is classic for the 3rd century crisis, he defeated Aemilian to rise for power, but the reign was far from being peaceful. In 260 he was defeated and taken prisoner by Shapur I and lived in captivity until his death (according to many sources, his death was not peaceful). 

Here is the rest of Valerian's family including himself 

Valerian:

20 mm, 2,92 g.
Valerian I 255-256. Billon antoninianus. Samosata.
IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG, bust of Valerian, radiate, draped, right / RESTITVT ORIENTIS, turreted woman (the Orient), draped, standing right, presenting wreath to emperor, standing left, holding spear in left hand.
RIC V Valerian 287; Göbl 1685e; RSC 189.

A provincial from Pisidia, Antioch - suspected to be Valerian but this is not 100% sure because in that period the engravers really managed to mess the legends 

Pisidia, Antioch. Volusian 251-253 AD. Ӕ.
IMP CAE RASLLOVNAHNIR, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Volusian right, seen from behind / ANTIOC- H- IOCLA [R], aquila between two legionary standards.
SNG France 1294; SNG Copenhagen 85; BMC 135.
OR
Valerian I, 253-260. IMP CAE R ASLL OVAΛHIIR, radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / ANTIOC_H_IOCEA, legionary eagle between two standards surmounted by wreaths. S | R across fields. BMC Lycia 130, p.199.

A coin showing both the co-emperors

 

20,1 mm, 2,28 g.
Gallienus 253-268. Billon antoninanus. Asian mint. 255-256.
IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS P F AVG, bust of Gallienus, radiate, draped, right / VIRTVS AVGG, Gallienus and Valerian, in military attire, standing face to face, one holding Victory and the other holding globe.
RIC V Gallienus (joint reign) 456.

Early Gallienus:

 

22 mm, 1,99 g.
Gallienus 253-268 AD. AR antoninianus. Rome. 253.
IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS AVG, bust of Gallienus, radiate, draped, right / CONCORDIA AVGG, two right hands clasped together.
RIC V Gallienus (joint reign) 131; Cohen 125.

Just one of the popular Zoo series 

20 mm, 2,88 g.
Gallienus 253-268. Æ silvered antoninianus. Rome. 260-268 AD.
GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head of Gallienus right / SOLI CONS AVG, Pegasus flying right.
RIC V Gallienus 283; RSC IV 979.

 

Not the most common deity on reverses - Mercury 

Salonina:

20 mm, 3,00 g.
Cornelia Salonina. Augusta 254-268. Æ antoninianus. Rome.
COR SALONINA AVG, bust of Salonina, diademed, draped, right, on crescent / IVNONI CONS AVG, doe (or antelope) walking left, Δ (=officina 4) in exergue.
RIC V Salonina 16.

 

Valerian II:

21 mm, 4,16 g.
Gallienus 253-268. Billon antoninianus. Rome. 267.
GALLIENVS AVG, bust of Gallienus, radiate, cuirassed, right / FIDES AVG, Mercury, nude except for cloak draped over left arm, standing left, holding purse in right hand and caduceus in left hand. Exergue: PXV.
RIC V Gallienus 607; MIR 1667k; RSC 219.

22 mm, 2,34 g.
Valerian II, as Caesar 254-255. Billon antoninianus. Rome.
P LIC VALERIANVS CAES, bust of Valerian II, radiate, draped, right / PIETAS AVGG, Sacrificial implements, variously arranged.
RIC V Valerian II 19.

Valerian II as divus

22 mm, 2,54 g.
Divus Valerian II. Died 258. AR Denarius. Lugdunum.
DIVO VALERIANO CAES, bust of Valerian II, radiate, draped, right / CONSACRATIO, eagle bearing Valerian II to heaven.
RIC V Valerian II 9; RSC 5.

Saloninus

23 mm, 4,09 g.
Saloninus, as Caesar. Billon antoninianus. Samosata. 257-260.
SALON VALERIANVS NOB CAES, bust of Saloninus, radiate, draped, right / SPES PVBLICA, Spes, draped, presenting flower to Saloninus with right hand and holding skirt with left hand; Saloninus in military attire and holding spear.
RIC V Saloninus 36; RSC 95.

 

Let's see coins from the Third Century Crisis, newly added Roman ladies, coins from Valerian dynasty. 

 

 

Edited June 23 by ambr0zie

[expat]

Congrats on completing a nice sub-set @ambr0zie 

I have a ways to go, here is what I have so far

Valerian I, Billon antoninianus, 253 AD. Antioch or Samosata mint IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / VOTA ORBIS, two Victories holding shield inscribed S C, palm tree behind. RIC V-I 294; Goebl 1682e Samosata; Sear 9966.
Weight: 3,4gr, 24.7mm.

Valerian II Billon Antoninianus. P LIC COR VALERIANVS CAES, radiate, draped bust right / VICTORIA PART, Victory standing right, presenting wreath to Valerian II, holding globe and spear. RSC 97; RIC 54 Antioch; Goebl 1604d; Sear 10742.
Weight: 3,3gr

Gallienus AE Antoninianus. Rome. AD 260-268 (Sole Reign). 4.13 g. GALLIENVS AVG, radiate, cuirassed bust right. / AETERNITAS AVG, Sol, radiate, standing left, chlamys draped over shoulder and hanging down behind, holding globe and raising right hand. Γ in left field. RIC V-1 Rome 160; Goebl 0577w.

Volusian, AR Antoninianus, Antioch.. AD 251-253. 22 mm, 4,30 g
IMP C V AF GAL VEND VOLVSIANO AVG, radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right, / ADVENTVS AVG, Volusian on horseback, riding left, holding spear and raising right hand. RIC IV 224a; RSC 2a.

[Kali]

Nice addition.

Mine won't win any awards, but I like it.

Mariniana (254 - 258 A.D.)
AR Antoninianus
O: DIVAE MARINIANAE, Veiled and draped bust right, set on crescent.
R: CONSECRATIO, Apotheosis of Mariniana: Mariniana, raising hand and holding scepter, reclining left on peacock flying upward to the right.
Rome Mint
22mm
3.3g
RIC 6

Ex Hans Schulman April 21, 1962

[Qcumbor]

Interesting subset indeed !

Mr & Ms Valerianus

 

Q

 

[shanxi]

and another example:

Mariniana
Antoninianus, AD 257, Rome
Obv.: DIVAE MARINIANAE, diademed, veiled and draped bust on crescent
Rev.: CONSECRATIO, Peacock in splendor looking left
RIC Va, 3

 

[ominus1]

..kool man...i STILL don't have one of Mariniana.....here's a family group photo of me brood of that dynasty i do have.....(front and back)

[John Conduitt]

It's not easy getting any of this dynasty in good condition. Mariniana's aren't cheap even when they're worn.

Mariniana Antoninianus, 254-256

Rome. Silver, 23mm, 3.23g. Diademed, veiled and draped bust to right, set on crescent; DIVAE MARINIANAE. Peacock in splendour standing facing, head to right; CONSECRATIO (RIC IV.1 4). From the Beachy Head II Hoard 1964.

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Here's some:

 

Valerian II Caesar, good metal

Salonina wife of Gallienus from Alexandria

Gallienus joint reign sestertius

Gallienus as Germanicus Maximus V:

 

Of this coin, Chat GPT says:

Certainly! It’s fascinating to discuss ancient coins. The GERMANICVS MAX V series commemorates Gallienus’ victory over the Alamannic army, a tribe from southwestern Germany, which had crossed the Alps and attacked Milan around 258 AD. At the same time, Gallienus was also dealing with Frankish war bands along the middle and lower Rhine who had entered Gaul. The coin you mentioned features a martial portrait of Gallienus holding a spear and shield, celebrating his early victories over the Germans during the joint reign of Valerian and Gallienus. It marks Gallienus’ acclamation as Germanicus Maximus for the fifth time. Despite the challenges he faced later in his reign, recent scholarship has revised our understanding of Gallienus, portraying him as more capable than previously described by sources such as Aurelius Victor...

 

Edited June 23 by Ancient Coin Hunter

[rasiel]

My Mariniana is pretty run of the mill. Would love to upgrade it some day. However, I am really proud to own one of the best preserved ants of Salonina in private hands :- )

Rasiel

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

The only Mariniana I have is a mediocre sestertius, acquired many years ago.

[Roman Collector]

Coingratulations on the new acquisition, @ambr0zie. I have two Mariniana antoniniani, with different reverse types. Even in the early years of Valerian's reign, quality control at the mint left a lot to be desired. These, I think, are not bad for the type.

 

Mariniana, died AD 253.
Roman AR Antoninianus, 3.04 g, 23.5 mm, 5 h.
Rome mint, AD 253-257.
Obv: DIVAE MARINIANAE, veiled, draped bust r., on crescent.
Rev: CONSECRATIO, peacock standing facing, head l., tail in splendor.
Refs: RIC 3; Cohen 3; RCV 10067; Temeryazev & Makarenko 560; Eauze Hoard-1318 (23 spec.); Cunetio Hoard-646 (22 spec.).

 

Mariniana, died AD 253.
Roman AR Antoninianus, 2.26 g, 22.2 mm 6 h.
Rome, AD 253-254.
Obv: DIVAE MARINIANAE, veiled and draped bust right, set on crescent.
Rev: CONSECRATIO, Mariniana, raising hand and holding scepter, reclining left on peacock flying upward to the right.
Refs: RIC 6; Göbl 220b; RSC 16; RCV 10070; CRE 558; Hunter 1.

[lrbguy]

I hated to part with my coins for Mariniana.  Here are two that I kept:

 

 

 

Peacock in full display running to right.

 

Apotheosis, but peacock flying up to left.