Valerian I With Victory Coin

257 AD

Valerian I AR Antoninianus

Milan mint

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 - IMP VALERIANVS P AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from the back

Reverse - Virtus standing left, holding Victory and spear.

Weight - 3.65 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.