Sale: Triton VII, Lot: 747. Estimate $1500.  Closing Date: Monday, 12 January 2004.  Sold For $1600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BITHYNIA, Nicomedia. Valerian I, Gallienus and Valerian II. 256-258 AD. Æ 26mm (10.16 gm). AVT OUALERIANOC GALLHNOC OUALERIANOC KAIC CEBBB, confronted radiate busts of Valerian and Gallienus, small bare-headed bust of Valerian II between / NIKOMHDEWN TPIC NEWKORWN, the three neocorate temples of Nicomedia situated around central altar with serpent. Waddington RG, 407; BMC Pontus -; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG von Aulock 860 (same dies). Good VF, glossy emerald green patina. ($1500)

The acclamation of Valerian II as Caesar in 256 AD, provided the Empire with a third ruler, in addition to the already existent Augusti, Valerian’s father Gallienus and grandfather Valerian I. To commemorate the occasion, Nicaea and Nicomedia produced special coinages with the theme of "three:" three rulers on the obverse, and three civic symbols on the reverse. In both cases the obverses show the confronted busts of the co-emperors Valerian I and Gallienus, with the young Caesar Valerian II between them. The arrangement was carefully considered: Valerian I, as senior emperor occupied the position of honor at the left; both he and Gallienus as Augusti are radiate, while the young Caesar remained bare-headed. The reverse follows a similar pattern of ‘three’: three temples at Nicomedia. Provincial cities competed aggressively with each other to gain special permission from Rome to build temples dedicated to the emperor; upon earning these honors the cities attained neokorate status. The most famous and prosperous cities accumulated this honor two or more times. Nicomedia was especially fortunate, since it attained such status three times.