Silver Antoninianus of Valerian I (253-260), minted in Antioch (Syria), 257 CE
Diameter: 2 cm
Description
Obverse:
IMP VALERIANVS AVG
(Imperator Valerianus Augustus)
Bust of Valerian, facing right, wearing a radiate crown and cloak clasped over right shoulder.
Reverse:
P M TR P V COS IIII P P
(Pontifex Maximus Tribunicia Potestate V Consul IIII Pater Patriae)
Valerian standing side-by-side with his son, Gallienus. They are facing each other, and both have their hands on shields in between them. There is also a pair of spears planted into the ground behind them.
Commentary
The obverse reads simply “IMP VALERIANUS AUG,” or Imperator Valerianus Augustus. Imperator is the Latin word for emperor. This title was used to describe Valerian as the leader of the Roman army. The title “Augustus” was given to senior emperors, in recognition of the first emperor of Rome, Augustus Caesar (27 BCE-14 CE) (Swoveland 2003). Valerianus is in the nominative case, as well as both of the titles describing him.
The reverse legend contains many more titles and positions held by the emperor. These letters and numerals are abbreviations for different titles and positions that Valerian held and so provide a precise date for minting of the coin in 257. The unabbreviated version is “Pontifex Maximus Tribunicia Potestate V Consul IIII Pater Patriae.” The first title, Pontifex Maximus, identifies Valerian as the chief priest of the Roman state. Julius Caesar had held this office when he was dictator, and this was an important role for every Roman emperor, from Augustus and to the Christian emperors that would succeed Constantine (Wasson 2013). The title Tribunicia Potestate, followed by V (fifth), was given to indicate how many years Valerian had been granted “tribunician power.” Though the tribune had originally been a democratically elected office, by this time it was a position annually granted to the emperor (Swoveland 2003). Consul means that Valerian was one of the two Roman consuls appointed each year, and the IIII means that it was his fourth time serving in the position. Pater Patriae, the last of the titles on the reverse of the coin, was an honorary title given to the emperor since the time of Augustus (Strothmann 2006). Pater is in the nominative case, and with patriae being in the genitive case the phrase means, “father of the fatherland/country.”
Valerian reigned from 253-260 CE, a period of particular instability in the Roman empire. Due to the frequent changes of power, this era is often referred to as the ‘Crisis of the Third Century.’ On the obverse side, Valerian stares to the right wearing a crown and military attire. This crown is significant because it is the radiate crown often seen worn by Sol, the sun god (Fears 2005). This comparison had been drawn with other significant Roman emperors including Nero and Augustus. On the reverse stand emperor Valerian and his son, Gallienus. They are holding weaponry and face each other. This image depicts the emperor and his son holding weaponry from previous conflicts. The image of weaponry from war with a shield and other military items is pervasive throughout Roman history, and so connects the coin to previous tradition as emperors were often shown with military items and even in conflict. For example, the Columns of Trajan and Marcus Aurelius both depict scenes with their respective emperors in conflict. In addition, Valerian is shown with his son Gallienus, his co-ruler. This was undoubtedly meant to show that the imperial line was strong with a continuation of the dynasty with a young co-ruler. It had added importance at a time when the empire was unstable and having an heir and a direct line of succession would remove much of the conflict over the next Roman emperor.
Works Cited:
Brennan, T. 2017. “Tribunicia Potestas.” Oxford Classical Dictionary. Accessed December 6, 2020. https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9 780199381135-e-8196
Fears, J. Rufus. 2005. “Sol Invictus.” In Encyclopedia of Religion, 2nd ed., edited by Lindsay Jones, 8510-8511. Vol. 12. Detroit, MI: Macmillan Reference USA. Gale eBooks (accessed December 9, 2020). https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3424502899/GVRL?u=vic_uor&sid=GVRL&xid=442d9a79.
OCRE. Online Coins of the Roman Empire. “RIC V Valerian 277.” Online Coins of the Roman Empire, American Numismatic Society. numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.5.val_i.277.
Strothmann, Meret. 2006. “Pater Patriae.” In Brill’s New Pauly, edited by Hubert Cancik, Helmuth Schneider, and Christine F. Salazar. Leiden: Brill. Accessed December 9, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e909650.
Swoveland, Michael S. 2003. “Reading Ancient Roman Coins.” WNC Coins. Accessed December 6 2020. http://www.wnccoins.com/0022.htm.
Wasson, Donald L. 2013. “Roman Religion.” Ancient History Encyclopedia. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Accessed December 5 2020. https://www.ancient.eu/Roman_Religion/.
Coin type: RIC V Valerian 277; RSC 169; Goebl 1598a; Sear 9962
Research by: Max Caputo, Class of 2024; William Tune, Class of 2024; Cal Flett, Class of 2024