| Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 188 | Black | Auction date: 17 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 69 Price realized: 17,000 EUR (Approx. 18,690 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Valerian I AD 253-260. Samosata Aureus AV 19 mm, 3,44 g IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / ROMAE AETERNAE, Roma seated left on throne, holding Victory in her right hand and spear in her left; at her side, shield. mint state RIC 275 var. (bust draped only, 'Antioch'); Cohen 191; MIR 1678c; Calicó 3442. The multifaceted challenges faced by emperors, particularly the dilemma of allocating limited resources to numerous fronts, claimed Trebonianus Gallus's life. The refusal of the army guarding the northeast to divert troops for the Eastern war led to rebellion, culminating in Aemilian's proclamation as a counter-emperor and Trebonianus Gallus's assassination by his own officers. In 253, the Senate saw promise in the experienced military and administrative figure Valerian to address the crisis. He became emperor and implemented a groundbreaking strategy, dividing the empire into West and East. Valerian entrusted his son Gallienus with protecting the West while personally managing the more precarious eastern border. This foresight ensured a smoother troop exchange and anticipated Diocletian's later administrative reforms. When Valerian dedicated an aureus to eternal Rome (Roma Aeterna), there was a momentary sense of hope for the empire. The citizens, enjoying a brief respite from war, placed trust in Valerian's Sasanian strategy. Establishing a strategic headquarters in Samosata, he created a new mint to produce currency for legionaries. However, in 260, the Sasanians, led by Shapur, breached the border once more. Carrhae fell, Edessa was besieged, and Valerian's attempt to repel Shapur resulted in conflicting accounts-Shapur claimed capture in battle, while Roman sources suggested betrayal. This event not only devastated the East but also undermined Gallienus's credibility in the West. The gods seemingly abandoning Valerian cast doubt on Gallienus's fate, prompting reliance on local heroes over an emperor who shared his father's fate. (text excerpt and summary of "Der Höhepunkt der römischen Reichskrise" on muenzen-online.com) Starting price: 1 EUR |  |
