It is, at present, considered that the group of coins with the two figures reverses, unmarked or with various marks (
star,
wreath, pointed
wreath –
PIETAS AVGG,
VIRTVS AVGG,
RESTITVT ORIENTIS,
VOTA ORBIS) is not
part of the traditional
Antioch production (
antoniniani, tetradrachms, bronze) on a basis of
style and
themes. A. Alföldi (
Berytus, IV, 1937), attributed this group to ‘Die Zweite Orientalische Reichmünzstatte’ (second eastern
mint) opened in 255. As this group is followed by an abundant coinage for
Gallienus sole emperor - after the defeat and capture of Valerian - with more or less the same
style, marks, and
themes (
IOVI CONSERVATORI,
ORIENS AVG,
VICTORIA AVG,
VIRTVS AVG,
ROMAE AETERNAE) the localization of this
mint depends principally upon the reading of the
military and political events that occured in the region during the period 252-261. In this context a city which has not been captured immediatly after the defeat of
Valerianus in 260 could be a
good candidate for an imperial
mint for that period, even more, if this city is also considered as the headquarters of the
roman army at that time : it is the case of
Samosata.
