Gallienus | AR Antoninianus

Reference: RIC V.1 456
Date: 255-256 CE
Obverse: IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS P F AVG: Bust of Gallienus, radiate, draped, cuirassed, right
Reverse: VIRTVS AVGG: Gallienus and Valerian, in military attire, standing face to face, one holding Victory and the other holding globe
Mint: Samosata
Size: 21.8 mm
Weight: 4.00 grams
A very nice antoninianus struck in the peculiar style of the transient Samosata mint. The Sassanid leader Shapur invaded Roman Syria in 253 and 256 CE. In both of these instances, the provincial capital and imperial mint at Antioch were besieged and sacked. Coins were desperately needed to pay for the soldiers who would ultimately repulse this Persian invasion, but with Antioch out of commission for the time being, minting responsibilities in the region shifted to the fortified city of Samosata on the north bank of the Upper Euphrates in Commagene. Interestingly, these eastern antoninianii seem to be generally struck at a higher weight standard and from a higher grade bullion than those from the western mints.

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