Valerianus I - Restitutor Orientis (AU2169)

Valerian I. A.D. 253-260. BI antoninianus (20 mm, 4,12 g). Samosata, A.D. 256-260. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Valerian I right / RESTITVT ORIE-NTIS, the Orient, turreted, standing right, presenting wreath to the emperor, standing facing, head left, holding scepter. RIC 286; Göbl 1677e; RSC 188. Struck on a nice broad flan and fully silvered. An interesting (and as events were to prove, ironic) reverse type. Almost very fine.

The reverse legend, RESTITVT ORIENTIS, proclaims Valerian I as the restorer of the East, with the type echoing the sentiment by showing the figure of a turreted and draped female (the Orient) presenting him with a wreath. It is an historically ironic yet interesting type: shortly after Valerian invaded the Sasanian Empire he was captured and made a slave to the Sasanian monarch, Shapur I. Though the reliability of each of their accounts is suspect and their is also some slight evidence that Valerian was treated humanely, both Eutropius and Lanctantius relate that the aged emperor suffered many indignities at the hands of his captors, and was eventually disposed of by being forced to swallow molten gold or by being flayed alive.