Spaniard Posted September 6, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted September 6, 2022 Here's my Valerian with a decent portrait but what caught my eye was the animalistic interpretation of Felicitas on the reverse. 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 13 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qcumbor Posted September 6, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted September 6, 2022 I agree Valerian antoninianii are seldom seen with good engraving (and so are Commodu denarii, for some reason) Here's one that isn't that bad Q 12 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor Steve Posted September 6, 2022 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted September 6, 2022 Fun thread ... great coins by everybody! 🙃 Ummm, I have randomly included some Valerian-era coins (I wasn't quite sure about the posting prerequisites, so hopefully I didn't add a couple of duds??) => Valerian-I, Valerian-II, Gallienus, Salonia, Saloninus and Postumus 10 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordianAppreciator101 Posted September 7, 2022 · Member Share Posted September 7, 2022 My only Valerian I. Fun little story, I bought a Decius from a certain seller and I got it in my mail, no issue. Then a week later this one showed up out of nowhere, claiming itself to be the Decius (Mind you, I already had it). I contacted the seller and told me it must've been an error, I got to keep it so... It's free real estate. Two for the price of one. It's a very nice "Iovi Conservatori" full legend type so I'm not going to complain. (I wouldn't complain even if it was literally the worst coin ever, it's free!) The picture doesn't make full honor to the reverse. Valerian | 253-260 | Minted 254 | Antoninianus | Rome | IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG | IOVI CONSERVATORI | RIC V 92cA 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marsyas Mike Posted October 29, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 29, 2022 On 8/23/2022 at 7:36 AM, John Conduitt said: It's not easy to get nice coins of the Valerians. Valerian I Antoninianus, 258-259Colonia Agrippina. Silver, 23mm, 3.49g. Radiate draped and cuirassed bust right; VALERIANVS P F AVG. Virtus-Soldier standing left holding Victory and spear; VIRTVS-AVGG (RIC V, 24 Var). From the Botley (Hampshire) Hoard 1997 of 1389 radiates, deposited in 274. I just got one like this, and had a tough time finding others like it (RIC 24 - all of which seem to be a "variety"). I was pleasantly surprised to find yours on NF. Here is mine, just came in yesterday: Valerian I Antoninianus (257-260 A.D.) Cologne Mint VALERIANVS · P · F · AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS AVGG, soldier (Virtus/emperor/Mars?) standing left, holding Victory and spear (points up). RIC V 24c var. (rev. descrip.); Göbl MIR 36, 887d. (2.85 grams / 20 x 18 mm) eBay Oct. 2022 Everything I know about this coin comes from a CNG auction, which had this very helpful information - note that your coin, and mine, have a definite spear, point upwards - this CNG example has more of a sceptre-looking thing, although it could just be a weakly-struck point: The identity of the figure on the reverse is again uncertain, although most catalogues list him as a personification of Virtus. RIC describes him as a soldier. Descriptions also vary from one catalogue to another. RIC 24 has the figure holding Victory, but without sceptre. MIR does not mention the sceptre either. In the Cunetio and Stevenage reports the figure is described as holding ‘Victory on globe and long vertical spear (points up)’. On this coin the figurine of Victory does not stand on a globe, and the vertical item has no points, so is presumably a sceptre, not a spear. The main figure wears a crested helmet and, apparently, armour, with part of a cloak hanging down behind him. He may, therefore, be Mars, but could equally be the emperor. Since all coin iconography is essentially about the emperor, I favour the latter interpretation. https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=379481 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nerosmyfavorite68 Posted October 29, 2022 · Member Author Share Posted October 29, 2022 Cool acquisition, from the best Valerian Ant. mint. Not counting Gallienus and Valerian Sestertii, would you believe that I probably have less than a dozen (probablyunder 10) Valerian and Gallienus Ants, combined? I also probably only have under 20 post-260 Ants of all emperors. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tejas Posted October 30, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 30, 2022 (edited) On 8/23/2022 at 1:36 PM, John Conduitt said: It's not easy to get nice coins of the Valerians That is definetely true. I think it is often underappreciated just under how much stress the empire was around the middle of the 3rd century. During this period large cities, which were often situated at a long distance from the borders fell into ruins, or were partially abandonded with civic buildings like theaters and temples being dismantled for the fortification of smaller core settlements. Lutetia (Paris) is just one of several Roman towns that experienced rapid decline during that period. Against this background its is not surprising that the quality of minting coins deteriorated too. But there are of course exceptions, as we have seen above. Here is another example of a well made coin of Valerian from the mint of Viminacium: Obv.: IMP P LIC VALERIANO AVG Rev.: FIDES MILITVM Mint: Viminacium Year: AD 253 Weight: 4.06 MIR 792d Edited October 30, 2022 by Tejas 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambr0zie Posted October 30, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 30, 2022 Valerian II is also a must have. My only Valerian coin, until yesterday, was this very cheap and not very pretty type with pontifical implements Valerian II, Caesar AD 254-255. Rome Billon Antoninianus 22 mm, 2,34 g P LIC VALERIANVS CAES, bust of Valerian II, radiate, draped, right / PIETAS AVGG, Sacrificial implements, variously arranged RIC V Valerian II 19 I have added a coin I was considering for a while. It shows Valerian II as Divus (Divo in fact) and although the reverse was struck from a worn die, it is quite decent. And from Cologne. Divus Valerian II AD 258. Colonia Agippinensium (Cologne) Antoninianus AR 22 mm, 2,54 g AD 257-258. DIVO VALERIANO CAES, bust of Valerian II, radiate, draped, right / CONSACRATIO, eagle bearing Valerian II to heaven. RIC V Valerian II 9; RSC 5 9 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor kirispupis Posted October 31, 2022 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted October 31, 2022 I just picked up my first Valerian recently. I was mainly looking for a representative coin and was cheap, but I'm happy with this one. I haven't picked up his sequel yet. Valerian I AR Antoninianus 3.25g, 23mm, 6h Colonia Agrippinensis, 257 CE VALERIANVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / ORIENS AVGG, Sol advancing to left, raising hand and holding globe RIC V.1 12 (Lugdunum) var. (bust type); MIR 868h; RSC 143a var. (same) Ex Roma 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barzus Posted October 31, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 31, 2022 On 10/30/2022 at 12:07 PM, ambr0zie said: Divus Valerian II AD 258. Colonia Agippinensium (Cologne) Antoninianus AR 22 mm, 2,54 g AD 257-258. DIVO VALERIANO CAES, bust of Valerian II, radiate, draped, right / CONSACRATIO, eagle bearing Valerian II to heaven. RIC V Valerian II 9; RSC 5 @ambr0zie, here are two little variants of your last one 😉 A fun imitation And a nice thunderbolt 5 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambr0zie Posted October 31, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 31, 2022 I have never seen the imitation - I consider it well above average. I am also aware about the thunderbolt version. Very nice coins - congratulations. I would pick the imitation without blinking. Are you sure this is indeed unofficial? I am asking because the 3rd century imitation I saw are usually inferior, from the artistry point of view. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barzus Posted October 31, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 31, 2022 (edited) 2 hours ago, ambr0zie said: Are you sure this is indeed unofficial? I am asking because the 3rd century imitation I saw are usually inferior, from the artistry point of view. Here are some pics of my Divus Valerianus from Cologne, for the sake of comparison...The portrait on the´odd’´ one is slightly smaller in size, as is the flan. Weight is OK, 3.15g. The lettering is not too bad, but the overall style does not look right even though the engraving is quite detailed. Look at the wobbling crown, and the funny eagle and the emperor on it... It does certainly look ancient though, that is why I think it is a contemporary imitation... I may be wrong (?) Edited October 31, 2022 by Barzus 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambr0zie Posted October 31, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 31, 2022 (edited) I do not mean to contradict you at all. I am certainly not educated enough in Valerian II coins, having just 2. The Divus coin was an old target and I bought it just 2 days ago - I consider it an emblematic coin of the 3rd century. I also intend to buy an example with young Zeus riding Almathea (another emblematic coin). Unofficial imitation or not, I really like your coin and if it is unofficial, the engraver was talented. Edited October 31, 2022 by ambr0zie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barzus Posted October 31, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 31, 2022 1 hour ago, ambr0zie said: I do not mean to contradict you at all. I am certainly not educated enough in Valerian II coins, having just 2. No problem at all :). Actually this coin is an oddity to me, and I am certainly open to opinions ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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