442, Lot: 210. Estimate $300. Sold for $320. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Gallienus. AD 253-268. Antoninianus (20mm, 3.08 g, 5h). Rome mint. 8th issue, AD 263-264/5. GALLIENVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right / OB REDDIT LIBERT, Libertas standing left, holding pileus and transverse sceptre. MIR 36, – [562l]; RIC V (sole reign) 247 var. (bust type); Cunetio –; Normanby –; Chalfont –. Near EF, dark brown patina, weak reverse strike.

Bought from CGB, Paris, 2014.

MIR records only one antoninianus with this reverse (562g, with a different obverse bust – location not recorded). In his introductory chapter Göbl discussed possible contexts for this exceptionally rare issue, and suggested that it may have been planned to celebrate anticipated victory against Postumus, in a military campaign which had to be abandoned. In the course of besieging Postumus and his army in Gaul, Gallienus was severely wounded by an arrow and was forced to abandon the campaign. As a result of this, any coins struck in anticipation of victory would have been destroyed. The reverse legend on this coin – OB REDDIT(am) LIBERT(atem) (freedom restored) – was intended to mark the overthrow of the rebel Gallic Empire. Geiger (2012, p. 232) takes issue with Göbl's suggested dating of the issue to AD 264-5, however, and proposes either 266/7 or 268. The same reverse occurs on two items (MIR 565a and 568b), described as offstrikes from dies intended for the production of gold multiples.