Saloninus, 260. Antoninianus (Billon, 25 mm, 3.21 g, 7 h), Cologne, July-August 260. IMP SAL[ON VAL]ERIANVS AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Saloninus to right, seen from behind. Rev. [SPE]S PVBLICA Spes advancing left, holding flower in her right hand and raising her skirt with her left. Cohen 94. Elmer 108. MIR 917f. RIC 14 corr. (Spes advancing right). Very rare. Struck from the usual worn dies and with areas of weakness and a light scratch on the reverse, otherwise, very fine.



While still an infant, Saloninus resided in Cologne when Postumus laid siege to the city in 260. With his father, Gallienus, far away in Pannonia, Saloninus assumed the title of Augustus in a desperate attempt to gain local support against the usurper. However, the inhabitants soon surrendered him to Postumus to avoid the sacking of their city. The rarity of the coinage for Saloninus Augustus indicates that this episode lasted only a few weeks, as only about seventy examples have survived.