Antoninianus - Gallienus MARS AVG; Mars
| Silver | - | - |
| Issuer | Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Gallienus (Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus) (253-268) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 260-268 |
| Value | Antoninianus (1) |
| Currency | Antoninianus, Reform of Caracalla (AD 215 – 301) |
| Composition | Silver |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#289470 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Mars, standing right, holding spear and leaning on shield. Officina mark in exergue.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
MARS AVG
SPQR
Translation:
Mars Augustus.
Mars, the venerable.
Comment
Source:Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE)
Interesting fact
The Antoninianus coin featuring Mars, the Roman god of war, was minted during the reign of Emperor Gallienus (260-268 AD) and was used to pay soldiers and compensate civilians for their services to the empire. Despite being made of silver, the coin's value was not based on its precious metal content but rather on its official value assigned by the Roman government. This coin is a testament to the complex monetary system of the Roman Empire, which used a combination of coins with different metallic contents and official values to facilitate trade and commerce across a vast territory.