★ An Antoninianus of Valerian I, overstruck on a Den ★

Valerian I, 253-260. Antoninianus (Silver, 22-23 mm, 2.65 g, 6 h), Rome, 253-254. [IMP C P LIC VALE]RIANVS AV[G] Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Valerian I to right. Rev. [IOVI CONSE]RVA Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt in right hand and scepter in left. Cohen 83. MIR 25d. RIC 92. A very rare and interesting overstrike. Good very fine.

This is an interesting coin with obvious traces of overstriking: on the obverse and starting below Valerian's portrait, one can read [...] ALEXANDER PIVS AVG and see traces of hair and an ear on Valerian's chin and cheek, whereas the reverse shows the letters SPES PVB[...] and a hand holding a flower in the left field. The undertype can thus be safely identified as a Denarius of Severus Alexander with SPES PVBLICA reverse from 231-235 (BMC 897. Cohen 546. RIC 254). The Rome mint must have started issuing coins for the new emperor Valerian I in great haste after the murder of Aemilian in 253: this explains why some old coins, like our example, were not properly melted down but overstruck with little care using the newly produced Valerian dies.