Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 442 17 Apr 2019
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Gallienus. AD 253-268. Ӕ Sestertius (25.5mm, 15.21 g, 11h). Rome mint. 6th issue, AD 260-261. IMP GALLIENVS AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust left / VIRTVS AVGG, Mars standing facing, head right, holding reversed spear and leaning on shield; S C across field. MIR 36, 434u var. (rev. legend); RIC V (joint reign) 424 (Milan); Banti 81 var. (bust type). Near VF, dark green patina.
Old family inheritance.
Although this coin has a reverse legend belonging to the joint reign of Valerian I and Gallienus, it is clearly a sole reign issue. This left-facing bust was not used at all during the joint reign. MIR records only one, very poorly preserved, specimen of 434u, in the collections of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. The reverse legend is not legible at all on that coin, but the die appears to be the same one used for this second specimen, so both coins may represent a die-sinking error in the reverse legend. (No sestertii of the joint reign are recorded with this reverse type.)
Old family inheritance.
Although this coin has a reverse legend belonging to the joint reign of Valerian I and Gallienus, it is clearly a sole reign issue. This left-facing bust was not used at all during the joint reign. MIR records only one, very poorly preserved, specimen of 434u, in the collections of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. The reverse legend is not legible at all on that coin, but the die appears to be the same one used for this second specimen, so both coins may represent a die-sinking error in the reverse legend. (No sestertii of the joint reign are recorded with this reverse type.)