Valerian I, Bronze Sestertius
Dublin Core
Title
Valerian I, Bronze Sestertius
Subject
Valerian I, Bronze Sestertius. 253-260 CE.
OBVERSE: IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG (Imperator Caesar Publicus Licinius Valerianus Augustus), laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
REVERSE: VIRTVS AVG S-C (Virtue of Augustus, by decree of the senate), Soldier standing left, right hand resting on shield, left hand holding spear.
OBVERSE: IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG (Imperator Caesar Publicus Licinius Valerianus Augustus), laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
REVERSE: VIRTVS AVG S-C (Virtue of Augustus, by decree of the senate), Soldier standing left, right hand resting on shield, left hand holding spear.
Description
From a noble Roman family, Valerian held many important positions in the city of Rome, including Censor and Princeps Senatus, before he was declared Emperor in 253 CE. His son, Gallienus, was declared co-emperor and sent to the west to look after affairs there.
Valerian spent much of his time in the East, repelling the Persians and persecuting Christians. He arranged to meet the Persian king, Shapur, to discuss a peace treaty, but was kidnapped and apparently forced to live in humiliating conditions, which he did for another ten years. It is rather hotly debated whether Sharpur flayed Valerian alive, forced him to swallow molten gold, or let him live the rest of his life in relative peace with a portion of his troops under guard in another city.
Valerian spent much of his time in the East, repelling the Persians and persecuting Christians. He arranged to meet the Persian king, Shapur, to discuss a peace treaty, but was kidnapped and apparently forced to live in humiliating conditions, which he did for another ten years. It is rather hotly debated whether Sharpur flayed Valerian alive, forced him to swallow molten gold, or let him live the rest of his life in relative peace with a portion of his troops under guard in another city.
Source
Gift of James and Aneta McIntyre, Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Salem, OR. 2006.010.049
Date
253- 260 CE
Rights
Hallie Ford Museum of Art
Format
0.906 in
0.300 oz
0.300 oz
Language
Latin
Type
Coin
Coverage
This item can be viewed on Hallie Ford Museum of Art's website.
Citation
“Valerian I, Bronze Sestertius,” Hallie Ford Museum of Art Exhibits, accessed November 23, 2024, https://library.willamette.edu/hfma/omeka/items/show/100.