Antoninianus of Gallienus - 1986.15
Obv.: Bust of Gallienus, r., radiate, draped. GALLIENVS AVG(ustus).
Rev.: Aesculapius (god of healing) standing facing l., leaning on staff, with snake coiled around it, held in left hand. CONSERVATOR AVG(ustus).
Title: Antoninianus of Gallienus - 1986.15
Culture or period: Roman Imperial
Date: AD 265-266
Material: Metal - Copper-silver alloy
Object type: Coins - Roman
Acquisition number: 1986.15
Dimensions: 22mm (w)
Origin region or location: Turkey
Display case or on loan: 7
Keywords: Coin, antoninianus, Roman, Imperial, Gallienus, Aesculapius, Syria (Roman province), Antioch, Roman Syria
Sear, D.R., Roman Coins and their Values 5 vols (London, Spink, 2000-2014) 10193; Mattingly, H., E.A. Sydenham, C.H. Sutherland, R.A. Carson, The Roman Imperial Coinage 13 vols (London, Spink, 1923-1994) V 632; Seaby, H.A., Roman Silver Coins (London, B.A. Seaby, 1967) IV 140.
1986.15
Antoninianus of Gallienus
3.17 g. AD 265-266
Obv.: Bust of Gallienus, r., radiate, draped. GALLIENVS AVG(ustus).
Rev.: Aesculapius (god of healing) standing facing l., leaning on staff, with snake coiled around it, held in left hand. CONSERVATOR AVG(ustus).
Minted at Antioch.
This is a typical portrait of Gallienus who was the last emperor of noble Roman stock.
On Gallienus, cf. 1968.16.
Aesculapius, the god of healing, is also associated on Gallienus’ coins with Salus (‘health, welfare’), and on a coin of Claudius Gothicus (AD 268-270) both Salus and Aesculapius appear together, with the legend SPES PVBLIC(a), ‘the public hope’, which all suggests some attempts to improve public health. Several forms of ‘plague’ had ravaged the Roman world since the latter part of the second century.
Sear, D.R., Roman Coins and their Values 5 vols (London, Spink, 2000-2014) 10193; Mattingly, H., E.A. Sydenham, C.H. Sutherland, R.A. Carson, The Roman Imperial Coinage 13 vols (London, Spink, 1923-1994) V 632; Seaby, H.A., Roman Silver Coins (London, B.A. Seaby, 1967) IV 140.
