Sale: CNG 72, Lot: 1705. Estimate $7500.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 14 June 2006.  Sold For $8000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Regalianus. Usurper, AD 260. AR Antoninianus (2.59 g, 12h). Carnuntum mint. IMP C P C REGA[LIANVS AVG], Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / [ORIENS] AVG[G], Oriens standing left, raising hand and holding whip. RIC V 6; MIR 43, 1713e (same dies as illustration); RSC 4. VF, porous. Overstruck on a denarius of Diadumenian (cf. RIC IV 102; ...ANT DIADVME... and his portrait are visible on the reverse, ...VVENT... is visible on the obverse). Extremely rare.

Following the capture of Valerian I by the Persians, a number of usurpations occurred throughout the empire. In Illyricum, one of Valerian’s generals, Cornelius Publius Caius Regalianus, seized power, but was killed by his own troops after a very short reign. All of Regalianus’ coinage has been attributed to a mint in Carnuntum (on the Danube between modern Hainburg and Bratislava in Hungary). It was obviously struck in great haste as evidenced by the relatively crude style and the fact that his known coins are all overstruck on other coins.