antoninianus 253-260 AD Silver of Valerian (253-260 CE), Samosata, Roman Empire (RIC 187c)

IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS PF AVG, Valerian facing right / RESTITVT ORIENTIS, Turreted Tyche (or Orient) placing wreath on Valerian holding spear, without the star above. 22mm, 3.10 grams. Samosata mint, minted 255-256 CE. RIC V-1, 287c; RSC 189 var (with the star in upper field); Goebl 1685e var. (with the star in upper field); Sear 9967 var (with the star in upper field).

Darkly toned, but these were struck in fairly decent silver.

Emperor Valerian I (r. 253–260 CE) was a Roman emperor during the height of the Crisis of the Third Century, ruling jointly with his son Gallienus in an attempt to stabilize the empire through divided command. Valerian focused on the eastern front against the rising Sasanian Empire under Shapur I, while Gallienus managed the west, but persistent invasions, rebellions, plague, and financial strain undermined their efforts. In 260 CE Valerian suffered a catastrophic defeat and was captured alive by Shapur I at the Battle of Edessa, becoming the only Roman emperor known to have been taken prisoner by a foreign enemy. His capture shattered imperial prestige and accelerated political fragmentation, though Gallienus continued to rule in the west; Valerian reportedly died in captivity, and his fate became a powerful symbol of Rome’s vulnerability during this turbulent era.

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