Gallienus BI Antoninianus (VICTORIA AVG, RIC V 450a)

GALLIENUS. Joint reign, AD 253-260
BI Antoninianus (21.07mm, 3.91g, 12h)
Struck AD 255-6. Samosata mint
Obverse: IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS P F AVG, radiate and draped bust of Gallienus right
Reverse: VICTORIA AVG, Gallienus standing left, holding spear in left hand and receiving wreath from Victory standing right; star in field above
References: RIC V.1 450a; RCV 10386; ERIC II - ; MIR/Goebl 1702r (5 specs.)

An exceptionally rare variation of a scarce type. This coin is thought to have been struck in the eastern city of Samosata, which was located in the region between Asia Minor and Syria. Samosata had been the capital of the Kingdom of Commagene, and continued to be an important city after it was incorporated into the Roman empire in AD 73. By the time of Gallienus, Samosata had also become important as a frontier city, close to the Sassanian border. This proximity proved disastrous, however, when it became the first city to be destroyed by the Sassanians, after the defeat of Gallienus’ father Valerian at the hands of Shapur I in AD 260. 

Collection : Roman Imperial - the Military Anarchy