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A billon antoninianus of the emperor Gallienus with a reverse showing the emperor and a kneeling female figure Coin Type: Billon antoninianus of Gallienus, joint reign with Valerian 254-260 CE, sole reign 260-268 CE.
Mint and Date: Rome, 265-267 CE.
Size and Weight: 17mm x 20mm, 1.92g
Obverse: GALLIENVS AVG
Radiate head right
Reverse: CONSERVAT PIETAT.
Gallienus, in military attire, standing left, extending right hand to kneeling male figure which reaches up to him, and holding tall sceptre in left hand behind.
Exergue: XII
Ref: RCV (2005) 10192; RIC V Sole Reign 171a; Göbl 171aK.
BW Ref: 060 042 145
Click on the picture for a larger scale view of the coin

Note: The Dictionary of Roman Coins says of this reverse type: "From the type of a boy in a suppliant posture, it may be inferred, that by this reverse allusion is made to the piety (or benevolence) shewn towards the children maintained by the state (pueris alimentariis), many instances of which are recorded from the time of Trajan. The same reverse occurs on a coin of Claudius."

The content of this page was last updated on 21 September 2009