PHRYGIA. Apameia. Gallienus, 253-268. AE (Bronze, 23 mm, 6.22 g, 6 h), Tryphon, magistrate. AYT K Π ΛI ΓAΛΛIHNOC - CЄBA Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust of Gallienus to right, seen from behind. Rev. ЄΠΙ ΤΡΥΦΩΝΟC ΑΠΑΜЄΩΝ Athena standing front, head to left, placing her right hand on shield set on ground and holding spear in her left. BMC -. SNG Copenhagen -. SNG Leypold -. SNG München -. SNG von Aulock -. Apparently unpublished. Minor flan fault on the edge, otherwise, very fine.


This coin features two interesting details on the obverse: first, Gallienus is shown bare-headed, like a Caesar, however, the legend clearly names him σεβαστός, Augustus. Secondly, the A of CЄBA is upside-down, or rather, the entire word is spelled, oddly enough, retrograde and outwardly, as if the artist first cut the portrait of a Caesar, and then added the appropriate title later on when he realized (or heard) that Gallienus was in fact not Caesar, but Augustus like his father.