Category Archives: Valerian II

Valerian II Antoninianus, Son of Gallienus, Caesar AD 256-258, RIC 49, RSC 67,  21 mm, 4.0 gms, Obverse:  radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Valerian II facing right, VALERIANVS NOBIL CAES, Reverse:  Valerian II facing left, holding a spear and shield in his left hand and crowning a trophy with his right, PRINC IVVENTVTIS, lightly and attractively toned coin with some silvering, great portrait of the young caesar, detailed reverse and devices, full and clear legends on both sides, a well struck and centered coin that is much better struck than most I’ve seen, a lovely coin indeed that my researches tell me is a scarce issue for Valerian II, Asking price:  $187 includes priority shipping and insurance in the U.S., registered to other countries (please see shipping information page)

Valerian II Antoninianus, son of the emperor Gallienus and Caesar AD 256-258, struck at Lugdunum, RIC 3; RSC 26; Van Meter 5, 22 mm, 4.7 gms, Obverse: radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Valerian II facing right, VALERIANVS CAES, Reverse: Jupiter as a child riding right on the goat named Amalthea in mythology, IOVI CRESCENTI, lustrous coin with lovely light grey toning, wonderful portrait of Valerian II, clear and detailed reverse with a very nice goat and rider, full and clear legends on both obverse and reverse, a very nice example of this coin type, and much sharper in hand than my photography shows, a lovely coin struck on a large and heavy flan.  Note:  the story surrounding the depiction of a young Zeus and a goat on the reverse of this coin is as interesting as it is confusing and contradictory (which makes it all the richer actually).  Amalthea is alternately the goat who suckled Zeus when he was in danger from his daddy Cronus, or a nymph/shepherdess who gave Zeus milk from one of her goats.  I collect fine art prints and they adorn my walls, and one of my favorites is Jacob Jordaens’s “Infancy of Zeus,” which depicts the latter version of the story.  Hence my research on this myth after being attracted to the print. A version of the story has Zeus killing and skinning the goat, its horn being the progenitor of the classic cornucopia, and the placing by Zeus of the goat in the heavens as a constellation.  All very convoluted and confusing, as are most of the myths when dissected.  But enough of that, for Heaven’s sake!  Asking price: $117 includes priority shipping and insurance