Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XVI 26 Sep 2018
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Valerian I AV Aureus. Rome, AD 254-256. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG, laureate and draped bust right / VIRTVS AVGG, Virtus advancing right, holding spear in right hand and trophy over left shoulder. RIC -; C. -; MIR 84a (same dies); Calicó 3454b (same dies). 3.07g, 19mm, 6h.
Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.
From a central European collection.
Valerian was one of the last aristocratic emperors; from a noble senatorial family, he had previously held the posts of consul, princeps senatus, and dux of an army under Trebonianus Gallus. Following the assassination of Gallus by his own troops who deserted while he was attempting to quash the revolt of Aemilian, Valerian was proclaimed emperor. Ironically, Aemilian's troops deserted and murdered him too, thus avoiding significant bloodshed. Valerian's first official act was to appoint his son Gallienus co-emperor, in order that together father and son might tackle the myriad of threats both internal and external that were then assailing the empire. However the turmoil of the period and the excessive strain placed on the Roman economy is evidenced by the beginning of a massive decline in the Roman monetary system. The antoninianus became so heavily debased as to effectively be no more than bronze with a silver wash, and aurei of his reign were struck on several standards, all lighter than those of his predecessors. Indeed, the Historiae Augustae Scriptores contains rescripts attributed to Valerian in which the differet aurei in circulation were referred to variously as 'Philippeos nostri vultus' (Philips bearing our likeness) for the common aureus (use of the same term is ascribed to Aurelian for those aurei which he had restored in weight), 'third-Philips' for lighter-weight gold coins, 'aurei Antoniniani' for coins of the Antonines and Caracalla (superior to any coined since); Gallienus meanwhile is purported to refer to his father's gold coinage as 'aurei Valeriani'. Although much within the Historiae Augustae Scriptores is considered to be of quite questionable accuracy insofar as historical documents were actually written by those claimed to have authored them, it is nonetheless a valuable source where as our present line of questioning is concerned. Written during the reigns of Diocletian and Constantine I, it is evidence firstly of a general awareness that the aureus in the time of Valerian was not of its former weight and quality, and moreover demonstrates that rather than all being referred to as simply 'aurei', the different weights of the coins in circulation had inevitably required that they be treated as different denominations, and so more colloquial names found their way into common parlance, as well as perhaps official usage.
Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.
From a central European collection.
Valerian was one of the last aristocratic emperors; from a noble senatorial family, he had previously held the posts of consul, princeps senatus, and dux of an army under Trebonianus Gallus. Following the assassination of Gallus by his own troops who deserted while he was attempting to quash the revolt of Aemilian, Valerian was proclaimed emperor. Ironically, Aemilian's troops deserted and murdered him too, thus avoiding significant bloodshed. Valerian's first official act was to appoint his son Gallienus co-emperor, in order that together father and son might tackle the myriad of threats both internal and external that were then assailing the empire. However the turmoil of the period and the excessive strain placed on the Roman economy is evidenced by the beginning of a massive decline in the Roman monetary system. The antoninianus became so heavily debased as to effectively be no more than bronze with a silver wash, and aurei of his reign were struck on several standards, all lighter than those of his predecessors. Indeed, the Historiae Augustae Scriptores contains rescripts attributed to Valerian in which the differet aurei in circulation were referred to variously as 'Philippeos nostri vultus' (Philips bearing our likeness) for the common aureus (use of the same term is ascribed to Aurelian for those aurei which he had restored in weight), 'third-Philips' for lighter-weight gold coins, 'aurei Antoniniani' for coins of the Antonines and Caracalla (superior to any coined since); Gallienus meanwhile is purported to refer to his father's gold coinage as 'aurei Valeriani'. Although much within the Historiae Augustae Scriptores is considered to be of quite questionable accuracy insofar as historical documents were actually written by those claimed to have authored them, it is nonetheless a valuable source where as our present line of questioning is concerned. Written during the reigns of Diocletian and Constantine I, it is evidence firstly of a general awareness that the aureus in the time of Valerian was not of its former weight and quality, and moreover demonstrates that rather than all being referred to as simply 'aurei', the different weights of the coins in circulation had inevitably required that they be treated as different denominations, and so more colloquial names found their way into common parlance, as well as perhaps official usage.