Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 135 21 Nov 2022
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The Roman Empire. Valerian I, 253 – 260.
Aureus 255-256, AV 2.60 g. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. LIBERALITAS AVGG Liberalitas standing l., holding tessera and cornucopia. C 104 var. (different obverse legend, no drapery on cuirass). RIC 43. Göbl 66a. Biaggi 1439 (this coin). Calicó 3425 (this coin illustrated).
Extremely rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, among the finest aurei of
Valerian in existence. A superb portrait perfectly struck, good extremely fine
Ex NAC 34, 2006, 58; NAC 62, 2011, Markoff, 2068 and NAC 105, 2018, La Borde, 77 sales. Privately purchased fromSantamaria in 1969 and from the Leo Biaggi de Blasys collection. This coin is illustrated in The Roman Aurei byX. E. Calicó.
Publius Licinius Valerianus was born around AD 190 into a wealthy senatorial family. He showed considerable talent as a politician and served as consul during the reign of Severus Alexander. During the years AD 238-250, he held a series of important civilian and military posts as the Roman Empire plunged into an era of civil war, invasion, pestilence, and economic collapse. In AD 253, he was commander of the Rhine garrison when he and his army were summoned to Rome by the embattled emperor Trebonianus Gallus to defend his regime against usurper Aemilian. While Valerian was en route, Gallus was murdered by his own troops and Aemilian seized the throne. In a pattern typical of the age, Valerian's troops proclaimed him emperor and he, in turn, marched against Aemilian, who suffered the same fate as Gallus. Valerian's elevation was quickly approved by the Senate. He appointed his son Gallienus as co-ruler and sent him to the defend the crumbling Rhine frontier while Valerian focused on a deepening crisis in the east. The Goths had commandeered some Roman ships and were plundering Asia Minor at will while, at the same time, Shapur I, king of resurgent Sasanian Persia, had crossed the eastern frontier and sacked Antioch. After taking stern measures against those he considered subversives, including Christians (against whom he mounted a major persecution), Valerian mustered a large legionary force and marched east in AD 255. After forcing the Goths to retreat, he spent the next four years campaigning in the Syrian desert in a fruitless effort to force Shapur into a decisive battle. In AD 260, with his army weakened by pestilence and exhaustion, Valerian agreed to a peace parlay with Shapur. But on his approach, he and his bodyguards were seized and taken prisoner by Shapur. This was an unprecedented calamity and marked the Empire's darkest hour. Gallienus was unwilling or unable to come to his rescue, and Valerian remained in ignominious captivity for many years, where he endured such humiliations as being forced to serve as Shapur's footstool. After his death, Valerian's skin was flayed and stuffed, the effigy being presented to later Roman envoys as an object lesson.
Graded Ch AU* Strike 5/5 Surface 4/5, NGC certification number 6556713-039
Aureus 255-256, AV 2.60 g. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. LIBERALITAS AVGG Liberalitas standing l., holding tessera and cornucopia. C 104 var. (different obverse legend, no drapery on cuirass). RIC 43. Göbl 66a. Biaggi 1439 (this coin). Calicó 3425 (this coin illustrated).
Extremely rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, among the finest aurei of
Valerian in existence. A superb portrait perfectly struck, good extremely fine
Ex NAC 34, 2006, 58; NAC 62, 2011, Markoff, 2068 and NAC 105, 2018, La Borde, 77 sales. Privately purchased fromSantamaria in 1969 and from the Leo Biaggi de Blasys collection. This coin is illustrated in The Roman Aurei byX. E. Calicó.
Publius Licinius Valerianus was born around AD 190 into a wealthy senatorial family. He showed considerable talent as a politician and served as consul during the reign of Severus Alexander. During the years AD 238-250, he held a series of important civilian and military posts as the Roman Empire plunged into an era of civil war, invasion, pestilence, and economic collapse. In AD 253, he was commander of the Rhine garrison when he and his army were summoned to Rome by the embattled emperor Trebonianus Gallus to defend his regime against usurper Aemilian. While Valerian was en route, Gallus was murdered by his own troops and Aemilian seized the throne. In a pattern typical of the age, Valerian's troops proclaimed him emperor and he, in turn, marched against Aemilian, who suffered the same fate as Gallus. Valerian's elevation was quickly approved by the Senate. He appointed his son Gallienus as co-ruler and sent him to the defend the crumbling Rhine frontier while Valerian focused on a deepening crisis in the east. The Goths had commandeered some Roman ships and were plundering Asia Minor at will while, at the same time, Shapur I, king of resurgent Sasanian Persia, had crossed the eastern frontier and sacked Antioch. After taking stern measures against those he considered subversives, including Christians (against whom he mounted a major persecution), Valerian mustered a large legionary force and marched east in AD 255. After forcing the Goths to retreat, he spent the next four years campaigning in the Syrian desert in a fruitless effort to force Shapur into a decisive battle. In AD 260, with his army weakened by pestilence and exhaustion, Valerian agreed to a peace parlay with Shapur. But on his approach, he and his bodyguards were seized and taken prisoner by Shapur. This was an unprecedented calamity and marked the Empire's darkest hour. Gallienus was unwilling or unable to come to his rescue, and Valerian remained in ignominious captivity for many years, where he endured such humiliations as being forced to serve as Shapur's footstool. After his death, Valerian's skin was flayed and stuffed, the effigy being presented to later Roman envoys as an object lesson.
Graded Ch AU* Strike 5/5 Surface 4/5, NGC certification number 6556713-039