Valerian I Roman Imperial Coin

256-258 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.

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.