Gallienus. AD 253-268. Antoninianus (20.5mm, 2.92 g, 12h). “Legionary series” issue. Mediolanum (Milan) mint. 2nd emission, AD 261. Near VF.

Electronic Auction 616
Lot: 856.
Closing Date: Sep 2 2026 10:00 ET

The Steve Rubinger Collection of Gallienus, Silver

Estimate: $ 100

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Gallienus. AD 253-268. Antoninianus (20.5mm, 2.92 g, 12h). “Legionary series” issue. Mediolanum (Milan) mint. 2nd emission, AD 261. Radiate and cuirassed bust left / LEG VII CL P VI P VI F, bull walking right. RIC V 348; MIR 36, 1006p; Toffanin 101/5 (RRRRR); RSC 512 var. (same). Brown patina, light porosity, scratches. Near VF. Extremely rare with this bust type. MIR lists only one example, in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Münzkabinett in Vienna.

From the Steve Rubinger Collection.

Legio VII Claudia was founded by Julius Caesar at the outset of his Gallic campaign, circa 58 BC, and remained loyal to him throughout the heavy fighting and civil conflict that followed. Its first cognomen, Paterna, derives from Caesar’s title of Pater Patriae (”father of the fatherland”). Caesar actually disbanded his seventh circa 45 BC and settled them near Capua, but after the Ides of March 44 BC, his nephew and heir Octavian quickly called up the veterans and re-formed Legio VII to back his successful bid for supreme power. Its postings during the early Empire are not well understood, although it likely fought in the Thracian campaigns of Augustus and shored up the Dalmatian frontier after the Varian disaster of AD 9. During the reign of Claudius, the Seventh refused to back a rebellion by the governor of Dalmatia, and was rewarded with the title Claudia Pia Fidelis (”loyal and dutiful Claudian”), which it retained to the end. It eventually settled into permanent quarters at Viminacium in Moesia Superior (modern Kostolac, Serbia) and was still recorded there at the end of the fourth century AD. Like many legions founded by Caesar, its symbol was his natal sign, the bull.

Closing Date and Time: 2 September 2026 at 14:45:00 ET.

All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.