Gallienus AE As (LIBERALITAS AVGG, RIC V.1 270e)

GALLIENUS. Joint Reign, AD 253-260
AE As (23.86mm, 9.22g, 12h)
Struck AD 253. Rome mint
Oberse: IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust of Gallienus right
Reverse: LIBERALITAS AVGG, Liberalitas standing left, holding tessera in right hand and cornucopia in left; S C across fields
References: RIC V.1 270e; RCV – ; ERIC II 1720

Dark brown surfaces with some pitting. By the time of Gallienus’s reign, the as had become nearly obsolete as a viable piece of currency. His rule saw the last official issue of the denomination to include the formulaic “S C” on the reverse. This type featuring Liberalitas is extremely rare, with only five specimens known (including this one), with all five sharing the same obverse die, and four of the five sharing the same reverse die as well.

Collezione : Roman Imperial - the Military Anarchy