Roman Empire, AR Antoninianus, 253-268 AD, Gallienus, Lugdunum, 258-259 AD 

• 258 
• Roman Empire 
• Antoninianus 
• Roman Empire - Valerian to Florianus (253-276) 

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Coins

Roman Empire, AR Antoninianus, 253-268 AD, Gallienus, Lugdunum, 258-259 AD

258

3.28

24.44

GALLIENVS P F AVG Radiate bust, cuirassed, to l. carrying spear over r. shoulder and round shield on l. shoulder

GERMANICVS MAX V Trophy, on l. bound male German captive, on r. bound female German captive

RIC 18. C. 310

Perhaps no other emperor was beset by so many disasters, personal and national, as Gallienus. Constant warfare, rebellion, plague and other ill luck accompanied his reign. A cultured and literary man, Gallienus spent the first 5 years as co-emperor fighting Germanic tribes. His first son, Valerian II, died in the course of these campaigns. In 260 his father was captured by the Sasanians and Gallienus was now responsible for the entire Empire. His younger son, Saloninus, had been sent to Cologne to concentrate Roman power along the Rhine. There the usurper, Postumus, besieged the city and killed Saloninus and his advisors. In the East Macrianus and Quietus had declared themselves emperors, in all 7 revolts took place in that year. Gallienus nevertheless instituted important army reforms, excluded senators from command posts and created new army corps. In 268, although heavily outnumbered, he bestowed a stunning defeat upon the Goths, killing some 50000 in one day at Naïssus. He rescinded the edicts of his predecessors against the Christians and persecution ceased for some forty years. He was murdered in Milan by the commander of his cavalry Claudius II.