ROME, VALERIAN, Antoninianus, 255-57 Mint State
$255.00
RSC142 Obv: “VALERIANVS PF AVG”, Diademed draped bust right. Rev: “ORIENS AVGG”, Sol walking left, holding whip and raising right hand. Publius Licinius Valerianus was emperor from 253-260 when his reign came to an abrupt end at the Battle of Edessa. In a first for Roman history, a Roman emperor was captured when Valerian’s army was surrounded and annihilated by the Sassanian king, Shapur I. Valerian’s short reign is mainly remembered for his vigorous persecution of Christians and his ignominious end at the hands of his captors. A scarce, lustrous and early example that is a rare base silver issue rather than bronze with a silver wash. A full size coin but typically crude for this issue. Half of obverse legend was struck off the flan and the reverse was struck from an overused die. Lustrous Uncirculated wt 2.84gr
RSC142 Obv: “VALERIANVS PF AVG”, Diademed draped bust right. Rev: “ORIENS AVGG”, Sol walking left, holding whip and raising right hand. Publius Licinius Valerianus was emperor from 253-260 when his reign came to an abrupt end at the Battle of Edessa. In a first for Roman history, a Roman emperor was captured when Valerian’s army was surrounded and annihilated by the Sassanian king, Shapur I. Valerian’s short reign is mainly remembered for his vigorous persecution of Christians and his ignominious end at the hands of his captors. A scarce, lustrous and early example that is a rare base silver issue rather than bronze with a silver wash. A full size coin but typically crude for this issue. Half of obverse legend was struck off the flan and the reverse was struck from an overused die. Lustrous Uncirculated wt 2.84gr
