Rome - VICTORIA AVG III

A. Alfoldi's booklet "The Victories of the Emperor Gallienus" (p. 40) states that VICTORIA AVG VIII "means nothing more nor less than the quelling of the rival Emperor Macrianus in the summer of 261".

So VICTORIA III = overthrow of Regalianus; VICTORIA VIII = overthrow of Macrianus.

Despite the numbering, Victoria VIII (spring 261) came before Victoria III (summer 261).

Between the two issues, the counting of the victories was reset, so that:

• Victoria VIII of the first emission would be Victoria IV of the second emission (Macrianus).
• Victoria VII of the first emission became Victoria III of the second emission (Regalianus).
• Victoria VI of the first emission was Victoria II of the second emission (Ingenuus) and
• Victoria V of the first emission was Victoria I of the second emission (victory over the Alamanni at Milan).

The resetting of the victories must have come by direct order of Gallienus, who refused victory titles that were awarded to him to propagate a clean break with the discredited regime of his father, according to Alfoldi.

Colección : Gallienus