Antoninianus - Valerianus (ORIENS AVGG; Sol) (257) front Antoninianus - Valerianus (ORIENS AVGG; Sol) (257) back
Antoninianus - Valerianus (ORIENS AVGG; Sol) (257) photo
© Münzsammlung des Seminars für Alte Geschichte, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 DE)

Antoninianus - Valerianus ORIENS AVGG; Sol

257 year
Silver 2.6 g 19 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
Year
257
Value
Antoninianus (1)
Currency
Antoninianus, Reform of Caracalla (AD 215 – 301)
Composition
Silver
Weight
2.6 g
Diameter
19 mm
Shape
Round (irregular)
Technique
Hammered
Demonetized
Yes
Updated
2024-10-05
References
Numista
N#285980
Rarity index
100%

Reverse

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

Script: Latin

Lettering: ORIENS AVGG

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

Comment

Example of this type:
Münzsammlung des Seminars für Alte Geschichte, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg

Source:
Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE)

Interesting fact

The Antoninianus coin, which was issued during the reign of Valerianus (253-260 AD), was the first Roman coin to feature a portrait of the emperor on one side and a deity on the other. In this case, the coin features a portrait of Valerianus on one side and a depiction of the sun god Sol on the other, which is why it's inscribed with "ORIENS AVGG" (East Augustus) and "Sol" (Sun) on the reverse. This innovation in coinage design was a significant departure from earlier Roman coins, which typically featured mythological figures or personifications of abstract concepts.