442, Lot: 445. Estimate $100. Sold for $160. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Lot of five (5) coins. 445a Gallienus. AD 253-268. Antoninianus (23mm, 2.93 g, 4h). Mediolanum (Milan) mint, 2nd officina. Issue 5, AD 265. GALLIENVS AVG, radiate bust right, with drapery on left shoulder / ORIENS AVG, Sol standing left, right hand raised, left holding whip; S in exergue. MIR 36, 1212e; RIC V (sole reign) 494 var. (bust type); Cunetio 1621. VF, brown surfaces, touch of porosity.

Bought from Baldwin's, 1992.

445b Salonina. Augusta, AD 254-268. Antoninianus (21mm, 2.84 g, 6h). Mediolanum (Milan) mint, 1st officina. Issue 5, AD 265. SALONINA AVG, diademed and draped bust right on crescent / AVGVSTA IN PACE, empress seated left, holding olive branch and sceptre; P in exergue. MIR 36, 1234a; RIC V (sole reign) 60; Cunetio 1537. VF, toned, good silver content.

Ex “Bavarian Collection” (Numismatic Fine Arts XXXI, 18 March 1993), lot 1135.

In the past it has been suggested that this very unusual reverse legend indicated that Salonina had converted to Christianity. It is true that Gallienus had reversed the policy of his father and granted freedom of worship to the Christians, but it is most unlikely that the conversion of an empress would have gone unrecorded in any history of the period. It is far more likely that this is just another piece of propaganda concerning the ‘golden age’ which was to be inaugurated by the rule of Gallienus.

445c Salonina. Augusta, AD 254-268. Antoninianus (18.5mm, 3.09 g, 5h). Mediolanum (Milan) mint. Issue 5, AD 265. SALONINA AVG, diademed and draped bust right on crescent / VENVS VICT, Venus standing left, holding apple and sceptre; at her feet, child / Cupid. MIR 36, 1236a; RIC V (sole reign) 66; Cunetio 1680. Near VF, brown surfaces, trace of silvering.

Bought from C. J. Martin (Coins) Ltd., 1989.

445d Gallienus. AD 253-268. Antoninianus (21mm, 2.61 g, 6h). Mediolanum (Milan) mint, 1st officina. Issue 6, AD 266. IMP [GALLIE]NVS AVG, radiate head right / S[AL]VS AVG, Aesculapius standing facing, head left, holding staff around which snake coils; P in left field. MIR 36, 1285f; RIC V (sole reign) 511b var. (officina mark); Cunetio –. Good Fine, some silver content.

Bought from Paul-Francis Jacquier, 1992. Ex Jacquier FPL 14 (Autumn 1992), no. 324.

445e Gallienus. AD 253-268. Antoninianus (20mm, 2.55 g). Obverse brockage. Mediolanum (Milan) mint. 6th-7th issue, AD 265-267. IMP GALLIENVS P F AVG, radiate head right / Incuse of obverse. VF, thin die break in field on obverse, a few deposits. Rare brockage.

Ex CNG Inventory 779720 (November 2006).

According to MIR, this obverse legend and type combination was only used for the 6th and 7th emissions at Mediolanum. The style is also consistent with this period at that mint.

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