![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/romancoins\/files\/2020\/12\/R1979.11.0148-300x280.jpeg\")
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/romancoins\/files\/2020\/12\/R1979.11.0148b-300x280.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Silver Antoninianus of Valerian I (253-260), minted in Antioch (Syria), 257 CE<\/b> Description<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n Obverse:<\/b> Reverse:<\/b> Commentary<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n The obverse reads simply\u00a0 \u201cIMP VALERIANUS AUG,\u201d 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 \u201cAugustus\u201d 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 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 \u201cPontifex Maximus Tribunicia Potestate V Consul IIII Pater Patriae.\u201d 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 \u201ctribunician power.\u201d 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, \u201cfather of the fatherland\/country.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 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 \u2018Crisis of the Third Century.\u2019 On the obverse sid<\/span>e, 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. <\/span>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.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Works Cited:<\/b><\/p>\n Brennan, T. 2017. \u201cTribunicia Potestas.\u201d <\/span>Oxford Classical Dictionary. <\/span><\/i>Accessed December 6, 2020. <\/span>https:\/\/oxfordre.com\/classics\/view\/10.1093\/acrefore\/9780199381135.001.0001\/acrefore-9<\/span> 780199381135-e-8196<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Fears, J. Rufus. 2005. “Sol Invictus.” In <\/span>Encyclopedia of Religion<\/span><\/i>, 2nd ed., edited by Lindsay Jones, 8510-8511. Vol. 12. Detroit, MI: Macmillan Reference USA. <\/span>Gale eBooks<\/span><\/i> (accessed December 9, 2020). <\/span>https:\/\/link.gale.com\/apps\/doc\/CX3424502899\/GVRL?u=vic_uor&sid=GVRL&xid=442d9a79<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n OCRE. Online Coins of the Roman Empire. \u201cRIC V Valerian 277.\u201d Online Coins of the Roman Empire, American Numismatic Society. <\/span>numismatics.org\/ocre\/id\/ric.5.val_i.277<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n St<\/span>rothmann, Meret. 2006. \u201cPater Patriae.\u201d In <\/span>Brill\u2019s New Pauly<\/span><\/i>, edited by Hubert Cancik, Helmuth Schneider, and Christine F. Salazar. Leiden: Brill. Accessed December 9, 2020. <\/span>http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1163\/1574-9347_bnp_e909650<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Swoveland, Michael S. 2003. \u201cReading Ancient Roman Coins.\u201d WNC Coins. Accessed December 6 2020. <\/span>http:\/\/www.wnccoins.com\/0022.htm<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Wasson, Donald L. 2013. \u201cRoman Religion.\u201d <\/span>Ancient History Encyclopedia<\/span><\/i>. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Accessed December 5 2020. <\/span>https:\/\/www.ancient.eu\/Roman_Religion\/<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n<\/b>Diameter: 2 cm<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>IMP VALERIANVS AVG
\n<\/span>(Imperator Valerianus Augustus) <\/span>
\n<\/span>Bust of Valerian, facing right, wearing a radiate crown and cloak clasped over right shoulder.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>P M TR P V COS IIII P P <\/span>
\n<\/span>(Pontifex Maximus Tribunicia Potestate V Consul IIII Pater Patriae)<\/span>
\n<\/span>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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n