Valerian spent almost all his reign in the East, and had succeeded by A.D. 257 in rescuing Antioch on the Orontes from Persian control, at least temporarily, but was soon faced with a major invasion of the Goths in Asia Minor. Valerian remained to protect Asia Minor, returning to Antioch to guard it against renewed Persian attacks. It was at this point, around 259, that Valerian moved to defend Edessa and his troops lost significant numbers to the plague. Valerian tried to negotiate a peace with the Persian king, Sapor, but was captured by treachery and taken into captivity. The ultimate humiliation of a Roman emperor by a foreign leader was enacted through Sapor's use of Valerian as a human stepping-stool to assist the Persian king in mounting his horse and Valerian's body was later skinned to produce a lasting trophy of Roman submission. He was father of Gallienus and grandfather of Valerian II.
See the biography of Valerian I at De Imperatoribus Romanis, an online encyclopedia of Roman emperors.
Click on coin catalog links to view images:
| Catalog | Denom | Inscription | Reverse Type |
|---|---|---|---|
Valerian I A.D. 253-260 |
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| Hill 219 ANS 1944.100.73259 |
aureus AR forgery |
IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG / ORIENS AVG | Sol stand. R head L holding globe in L and raising R |
| Hill 219 ANS 1980.109.487 |
anton PB forgery |
IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG / ORIENS AVG | Sol stand. R head L holding globe in L and raising R |
| RSC 188 | anton | IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG / RESTITVT ORIENTIS | obv. radiate bust / Orient & emperor stand. |
| RIC 54 | VALERIANVS BOBIL CAES / VICTORIA PART | Victory stand. R, presenting wreath to Prince holding spear | |
| RIC 106 | anton | IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG / ORIENS AVGG | Sol stand. L holding globe in L and raising R |
| RSC 189 | anton | IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG / RESTITVT ORIENTIS | obv. radiate bust / Orient & emperor stand. |
| RSC 190 RSC 190a |
anton | IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG / RESTITVT ORIENTIS | as RSC 189 with star/wreath/pellets |
| RIC 287c | anton | IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG / RESTITVT ORIENTIS | turreted female (Orient) stand. R, presenting wreath to Valerian, holding spear |
| RIC 287 ? | anton | IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG / RESTITVT ORIENTIS | turreted female (Orient) stand. L, on globe, holding wreath and palm |
| RSC4 140b RIC 13 |
anton | VALERIANVS P F AVG / ORIENS AVGG | radiate Sol nude stand. L, raising right arm, holding globe in left hand |
| RSC4 143a RIC 12 |
anton | VALERIANVS P F AVG / ORIENS AVGG | radiate Sol walking L, raising right arm, holding whip in left hand |
| RIC 262 | anton | VALERIANVS P F AVG / VICT PART | Victory stand. L, holding palm, captive to left |
| RSC 255b | anton | VALERIANVS P F AVG / VICT PARTICA | radiate bust / Victory trampling enemy |
| RSC 255c RSC 255d |
anton | VALERIANVS P F AVG / VICT PARTICA | as RSC 255b with scene reversed, or no enemy |
| RSC 256 ??? | anton | VICTORIA PARTHICA | radiate bust R ? / Victory & emperor. (From the lack of info about this coin, perhaps no example was found when updating Cohen's details for reprinting RSC) |
| RIC 170 | sestertius | IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG / ORIENS AVGG | Sol stand. L, R hand raised, L holding whip |
| Catalog | Denom | Inscription | Reverse Type |
The images are used by permission of their copyright owners. See the Coins of Rome about Parthia index page for a listing of these generous individuals, dealers and institutions.
This page last updated 23 Feb 2021
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