Gallienus BI Double Denarius AD 253-268 *silvering* Ch XF
$115.00
$118.74
Check/Wire
Credit Card
| Quantity | Check/Wire | Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| 1+ | 115.00 | 118.74 |
- SKU: BFB005511
- Categories: ANCIENTS ROMAN ROMAN EMPIRE
The double denarius, sometimes called an antoninianus or aurelianianus, was a result of inflation in the Roman Empire. In 215 AD, Caracalla stopped production of the regular silver denarius and introduced the double denarius, which only used 1.5x the material of a regular denarius. In 274 AD under Aurelian, the composition of double denarii changed from a silver alloy to bronze with a silver coating. Some consider double denarii from 274 and beyond to be a different denomination (aurelianiani) than previous double denarii (antoniniani). On a double denarius’s obverse, emperors are depicted wearing a radiate crown and empresses are pictured with a crescent moon under their shoulders.
Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus, often simply called Gallienus, was born circa 218 AD into an affluent family. His father, Valerian, became emperor in 253. Valerian quickly made Gallienus co-emperor and divided the empire between the two of them - at the time, the empire was too large and faced too many threats for Valerian to handle alone. Gallienus controlled the western portion and Valerian had the east. Gallienus combated invaders and usurpers during his first few years as emperor. In 260, Persian invaders captured Valerian, who died in prison. This left Gallienus as the sole ruler, and he was not able to handle the whole empire by himself. He lost territories in the east and west to invaders and revolts. In 268, he drove the usurper Aureolus to retreat into Mediolanum (present-day Milan). While laying siege to the city, he was assassinated.
This coin was graded XF (Extremely Fine) by the Numismatic Grading Company, the official grading service of the American Numismatic Association and the Professional Numismatists Guild. Here is a list of grades used by the NGC, as well as information about Strike, Surface, and Style ratings. This coin is marked as having silvering. This is in reference to a process in which base metal coins were covered in a thin layer of silver. Many of these coins have since lost their coating, but this one has not.
Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus, often simply called Gallienus, was born circa 218 AD into an affluent family. His father, Valerian, became emperor in 253. Valerian quickly made Gallienus co-emperor and divided the empire between the two of them - at the time, the empire was too large and faced too many threats for Valerian to handle alone. Gallienus controlled the western portion and Valerian had the east. Gallienus combated invaders and usurpers during his first few years as emperor. In 260, Persian invaders captured Valerian, who died in prison. This left Gallienus as the sole ruler, and he was not able to handle the whole empire by himself. He lost territories in the east and west to invaders and revolts. In 268, he drove the usurper Aureolus to retreat into Mediolanum (present-day Milan). While laying siege to the city, he was assassinated.
This coin was graded XF (Extremely Fine) by the Numismatic Grading Company, the official grading service of the American Numismatic Association and the Professional Numismatists Guild. Here is a list of grades used by the NGC, as well as information about Strike, Surface, and Style ratings. This coin is marked as having silvering. This is in reference to a process in which base metal coins were covered in a thin layer of silver. Many of these coins have since lost their coating, but this one has not.
Obverse: IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS P F AVG, radiate and draped bust right
Reverse: VIRTVS AVG, Gallienus, standing right, holding transverse spear and receiving Victory from Roma, standing left, resting on a shield with spear propped against left arm, star/wreath in field above
Reference: RCV 10408, RIC 457
