Gallienus, 253-268. Binio (Gold, 23 mm, 4.33 g, 12 h), Mediolanum, 260-261. GALLIENVS AVG Radiate head of Gallienus to left. Rev. VICTORIA AVG VII Victory advancing left, holding wreath in her right hand and palm frond in her left. Calicó -. Cohen -. MIR 955e (no example recorded). RIC -. 500 Years of Roman Coin Portraits, p. 165, 457 (this coin). Apparently unique. An attractive coin with a wonderful portrait of the finest style. Minor weakness and a small scrape on the reverse, otherwise, about extremely fine.


This wonderful binio of Gallienus celebrates the many victories (seven, to be precise) of the emperor in a time of utmost peril, which saw the capture of his father Valerian I by the Sasanians, the murder of his son Saloninus by Postumus, the revolts of the latter, of Ingenuus, and of Regalianus, as well as invasions by the Alemanni and the Goths. Against all odds, Gallienus proved remarkably resilient and gradually stabilized his realm, crushing several revolts and defeating the barbarian invaders, all while reforming the army to become more mobile and combat-effective. On the downside, Gallienus failed to put an end to Postumus' rebellion in Gaul and was forced to accept Odaenathus' prominent role in the East, leaving it to his generals and later emperors Claudius (II) and Aurelian to reunite the empire after his own downfall in 268.