Obv: IMP.C.P.LIC.VALERIANVS AVG
Rev: APOLINI CONSERVA
Apollo naked standing left leaning on lyre placed on rock
Ar Double Denariusunanimously
Danube Silver Collection
Seaby #18
P. Licinus Valerianus, descended from a good Roman family, held various offices in the service of the state until, in the reign of Trajan Decius, he was appointed Censor. Later he was sent by Trebonianus Gallus to put down the rebellion of Aemilian. Solely on account of his merits he was unanimously elected emperor on the death of Gallus and on the murder of Aemilian was left undisputed master of the empire. Almost at once on assuming the purple he associated with himself his son,
Gallienus, with the title Augustus.
The reign of Valerian was marked by many frontier troubles, during which the Persians, under Sapor, invaded the Eastern provinces and entered Antioch. In 257 Valerian re-took Antioch and made it his base for further successes against the Persians. In 260, as he was advancing through Mesopotamia his army was surrounded by the Persians and destroyed, he was taken prisoner. He spent the remainder of his life in captivity in Persia.
Date: 253-260 AD,
