Antoninianus - Valerianus (ORIENS AVGG; Sol) (258-259) front Antoninianus - Valerianus (ORIENS AVGG; Sol) (258-259) back
Antoninianus - Valerianus (ORIENS AVGG; Sol) (258-259) photo
© Münzsammlung des Seminars für Alte Geschichte, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 DE)

Antoninianus - Valerianus ORIENS AVGG; Sol

 
Silver 3 g 21.5 mm
Description
Issuer
Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD)
Emperor
Valerian (Publius Licinius Valerianus) (253-260) Gallienus (Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus) (253-268)
Type
Standard circulation coin
Years
258-259
Value
Antoninianus (1)
Currency
Antoninianus, Reform of Caracalla (AD 215 – 301)
Composition
Silver
Weight
3 g
Diameter
21.5 mm
Shape
Round (irregular)
Technique
Hammered
Demonetized
Yes
Updated
2024-10-05
References
Numista
N#285874
Rarity index
93%

Reverse

Sol, radiate, walking left, raising right hand and holding globe in left hand.

Script: Latin

Lettering: ORIENS AVGG

Translation:
Oriens Duorum Augustorum.
The rising sun of the two emperors (Augusti).

Comment

Mass varies: 2.2–4.19 g;
Diameter varies: 20–22 mm;

Example of this type:
American Numismatic Society (ANS)

Source:
Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE)

Interesting fact

The Antoninianus - Valerianus coin was issued during a time of great economic and political turmoil in the Roman Empire. The coin's silver content was reduced to 3 grams, which was a significant decrease from the standard 4 grams of previous issues. This decrease in silver content was likely due to the empire's financial struggles and the need to produce more coins to meet the growing demand for currency. Despite this decrease, the coin still maintained its value and was widely used throughout the empire.