442, Lot: 306. Estimate $100. Sold for $120. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Lot of three (3) coins. 306a Gallienus. AD 253-268. Antoninianus (21.5mm, 3.57 g, 7h). Colonia Agrippinensis (Cologne) mint. Struck AD 257-260. GALLIENVS · P · F · AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS AVGG, figure walking right, holding spear and trophy. MIR 36, 882l; RIC V (joint reign) 56; Cunetio 730; Stevenage 495. Good VF, lightly toned.

Bought from C. J. Martin (Coins) Ltd., 1983.

The figure on the reverse is described in RIC and MIR as Mars, but in the Cunetio and Stevenage reports as a personification of Virtus. On this coin he clearly wears a laurel wreath, so is probably intended to represent the emperor. (See introductory chapter entitled The concept and representation of Virtus.)

306b Valerian I. AD 253-260. Antoninianus (22mm, 3.38 g, 7h). Colonia Agrippinensis (Cologne) mint. Struck AD 257-260. VALERIANVS · P · F · AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS AVGG, figure standing left, holding Victory and sceptre. MIR 36, 887d; RIC V 24 var. (rev. type); Chalfont 308 (this coin); Cunetio 712; Stevenage 506. VF, light porosity, lamination flaw on reverse.

Bought from C. J. Martin (Coins) Ltd., 1993. Ex Glendining’s (7 July 1993), lot 13 (part of); Chalfont St. Peter, Buckinghamshire, Hoard (1989) [IRBCH 740A], no. 308.

The identity of the figure on the reverse is again uncertain, although most catalogues list him as a personification of Virtus. RIC describes him as a soldier. Descriptions also vary from one catalogue to another. RIC 24 has the figure holding Victory, but without sceptre. MIR does not mention the sceptre either. In the Cunetio and Stevenage reports the figure is described as holding ‘Victory on globe and long vertical spear (points up)’. On this coin the figurine of Victory does not stand on a globe, and the vertical item has no points, so is presumably a sceptre, not a spear. The main figure wears a crested helmet and, apparently, armour, with part of a cloak hanging down behind him. He may, therefore, be Mars, but could equally be the emperor. Since all coin iconography is essentially about the emperor, I favour the latter interpretation.

306c Gallienus. AD 253-268. Antoninianus (23mm, 3.76 g, 7h). Colonia Agrippinensis (Cologne) mint. Struck AD 257-260. GALLIENVS · P · F · AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right / VIRT GALLIENI AVG, emperor striding right, holding spear and shield, treading down fallen enemy. MIR 36, 890h; RIC V (joint reign) 54; Cunetio 728; Stevenage 515. Good VF, toned.

Bought from Spink, 1981.

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