Antoninianus - Gallienus VIRTVS AVG
| 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#288921 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Soldier, standing left, resting right hand on shield and holding spear in left hand. Officina mark in right field.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
VIRTVS AVG
VI
Translation:
Virtus Augusti.
Courage of the emperor.
Comment
Source:Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE)
Interesting fact
The Antoninianus coin was introduced by the Roman Emperor Gallienus in 260 AD as a replacement for the denarius, which had been the standard Roman currency for centuries. The Antoninianus was made of silver, but its value was not based on the weight of the metal, like the denarius, but rather on its official value, which was set by the government. This made it the first Roman coin to use a fiat currency system, where the value of the coin was determined by the government's decree rather than its intrinsic value. This change in currency system was a significant innovation in the history of money and paved the way for modern fiat currencies.
