Valerian I Coin

257 AD

Valerian I was a Roman emperor from 253 to spring 260 AD.

He persecuted Christians and was later taken captive by the Persian emperor Shapur I after the Battle of Edessa, becoming the first Roman emperor to be captured as a prisoner of war, causing shock and instability throughout the Roman Empire. 

Observe - VALERIANVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right

Reverse - Salus standing left by altar, holding patera and sceptre, feeding serpent rising.

Weight - 2.8 grams

Roman billon coins

This term is applied to coins of silver mixed with much copper alloy, or to copper with a small alloy of silver.

From the reign of Gallienus to that of Claudius II (ad 253 to 270), almost all the coins were made of billon.