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Gallienus (c. 215 – 268) son of Valerian became co-Emperor a month after his father’s ascension in 253 AD. They divided Rome’s defenses; Gallienus was responsible for the western provinces, while his father focused on the east. Even with this distribution of power, it was the midst of the Crisis of the Third Century, and the Empire contended with one calamity after another.
In the late 250s AD, the crisis intensified when the city of Rome came under attack by the Alemanni and Juthungi. It took a Senate-improvised army to repel the attackers, who were finished off by Gallienus as they retreated. Meanwhile, the Franks were attacking across the Rhine into Gaul, even raiding cities across the Mediterranean coast. Around 260 AD, when it seemed that things could not possibly get worse, Valerian was captured by the Sassanids, and presumed slain.
Gallienus was now sole Emperor, although many others tried claiming power: Ingenuus, Macrianus, and Quietus, just to name a few. Such rebellions were eventually quelled, in one fashion or another. Meanwhile, general Postumus proclaimed himself Emperor after killing Gallienus’ son and (extremely short-lived) co-Emperor, Saloninus. In the mid 260s, Gallienus laid siege to Postumus in Gaul. Gallienus was wounded, forcing him to leave the campaign, and he never would get the chance to return.
To make matters worse, in the late 260s, a large Gothic invasion rampaged across Thrace, Macedonia, and Moesia, sacking many prominent ancient cities, such as Athens. The legions were mustered once more, and managed to eradicate most of the enemy — many tens of thousands at least — in what was probably the bloodiest battle of the 3rd century.
Even after Gallienus routed the Goths, he had no respite. He returned back to Italy to confront the latest in what seemed an unending onslaught of usurpers challenging his rule. One night during the confrontation, Gallienus was lured - unprotected - out of his tent, roused by a false alarm that his adversary was launching a counteroffensive. Awaiting Gallienus were enemies, indeed. His own men murdered him. The traitors’ identities remain unknown, although it is widely speculated that his successor, Claudius Gothicus, played a role.
For all these trials and tribulations, Gallienus left behind a rich variety of coinage. He minted coins following victories, honoring each legion involved. He produced a numismatic series invoking protection of various deities and depicting numerous animals. To keep up with coinage demands, he doubled Rome’s mint workshops, and opened new mints in locations close to his troops, such as in Trier, Siscia, and Cyzicus. On his coinage, Gallienus wanted to be portrayed as a god, as evidenced on this double denarius. It was produced in Antioch sometime after the mint re-opened in early to mid 260s AD (it closed several years earlier, due to the Sassanid’s sacking). The obverse portrait is draped and cuirassed, with a particularly prominent radiate crown. On the verso, Virtus, donning helmet, armor, shield and spear, represents manly strengths such as valor, courage, and character. The epithet VIRTVS AVG is intended to associate Augustus Gallienus directly with Virtus. The analogy is not completely inaccurate, considering Gallienus managed to hold power for 15 years of constant crisis, and avoid the complete collapse of the Roman Empire.
Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Gallienus, AD 253-268, Billon Double-Denarius (4.22 g), Antioch mint, struck 266-267 AD, NGC Grade: MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5, Obverse: Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, from behind, GALLIENVS AVG, Virtus standing left, helmeted and wearing military garb, resting right on shield set on ground, spear with point up in left, star in field, VIRTVS AVG, References: Göbl MIR 1617i; RIC V 668; SRCV III 10402; RSC IV 1237b cor; AHG 485.