Saloninus, 260. Antoninianus (Silver, 22 mm, 2.24 g, 12 h), Cologne, summer 260. IMP SALON VALERIANVS AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Saloninus to right, seen from behind. Rev. SPES PVBLICA Spes advancing left, holding flower in her right hand and raising her skirt with her left. Cohen 94. Gilljam, Saloninus Augustus - Neue Antoniniane seit 1987, in MÖNG XXIX (1989), vol. 6, p. 92, fig. 23 (this coin). MIR 917f. RIC 4. Very rare. An unusually complete example with fully readable legends and without the usual heavy die wear. Somewhat porous and with a flan crack, otherwise, good very fine.


Saloninus, still a juvenile at the time, was residing in Cologne when Postumus made his bid for power by laying siege to the city in 260. With his father Gallienus far away in Pannonia, Saloninus decided to assume the title Augustus in a desperate attempt to gain local support against the ursuper. The inhabitants, however, soon turned him over to Postumus to avoid the sacking of their city. The rarity of the coinage for Saloninus Augustus shows that this episode can not have lasted any longer than a few weeks: roughly 70 coins are known, of which this example is certainly among the clearest and sharpest.