442, Lot: 518. Estimate $100. Sold for $140. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Lot of four (4) coins. 518a Gallienus. AD 253-268. Antoninianus (22.5mm, 3.00 g, 6h). Samosata mint. Issue 1, AD 255-256. IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / RESTITVT ORIENTIS, Oriens, turreted, standing right, presenting wreath to emperor, standing left, holding sceptre. MIR 36, 1677m; RIC V (joint reign) 448; Cunetio –. VF, some silver content, porosity.

Ex Glendining’s (18 October 1990), lot 308 (part of).

518b Valerian I. AD 253-260. Antoninianus (23mm, 4.30 g, 12h). Samosata mint. Issue 1, AD 255-256. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS AVGG, two emperors standing face to face, one holding vertical spear and globe, the other Victory and transverse spear. MIR 36, 1681e; RIC V 292 (Antioch); Cunetio 845. VF, some silver content, porosity.

Bought from Seaby, 1988. Ex Seaby Coin and Medal Bulletin 834 (October 1988), no. C568.

518c Gallienus. AD 253-268. Antoninianus (21mm, 3.80 g, 7h). Samosata mint. Issue 1, AD 255-256. IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust left / VIRTVS AVGG, two emperors standing face to face, one holding vertical spear and globe, the other Victory and transverse spear. MIR 36, 1681n; RIC V (joint reign) 455; Cunetio –. VF, some silver content, weakly struck in parts.

Bought from Manton Associates, 1995.

518d Valerian I. AD 253-260. Antoninianus (21.5mm, 3.88 g, 6h). Samosata mint. Issue 1, AD 255-256. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VOTA ORBIS, two Victories affixing shield, inscribed S C, to palm tree. MIR 36, 1682e; RIC V 294 (Antioch); Cunetio 847. VF, some silver content, porosity.

Bought from C. J. Martin (Coins) Ltd., 1983.

This rather puzzling reverse does not seem to be satisfactorily explained in any of the standard reference works. Usually vota (vows) are made to the gods by an emperor at the commencement of his reign, fulfilled after a set period (normally ten years, but occasionally five) and renewed for a further period. Vota legends on coins are normally accompanied by scenes of sacrifice or simply inscribed in lines across the field. Here we have an issue struck only about two years after the commencement of the joint reign of Valerian I and Gallienus and accompanied by a scene more appropriate to a Victoria inscription – two winged Victories fixing a shield to a palm tree. The legend VOTA ORBIS (vows of the world) is also hard to explain.The letters S C (senatus consulto) inscribed on the shield are those normally found on bronze coins and which hark back to the traditional arrangement whereby the emperors were responsible for the issue of gold and silver coins and the Senate for those in base metal. In the absence of published guidance I am assuming that these coins mark some success in Rome’s wars against the Persians and a sacrifice to the gods which was made in gratitude for this. The relevance of the S C remains obscure.

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