Valerian II caesar, 256-258

Quinarius 256-258, Billon 15 mm, 1.56 g. P C L VALERIANVS NOB CAES Bareheaded and draped bust r. Rev. PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS Valerian II standing facing, head l., holding standard in r. hand and long vertical sceptre in l. C 80. Göbl 250n. RIC 30. King 38n (this coin illustrated).
Extremely rare. Old cabinet tone and about very fine

Ex Gilhofer/Rauschburg-Hess sale 22 May 1935, Trau, 3014.
When Valerian I and Gallienus came to the throne in 253, the Roman world was in great disorder. Father and son committed themselves to solving Rome’s problems, which at the time included enemy incursions on the Rhine, the Danube and the Euphrates. Valerian I went east to battle the Sasanian king Shapur, and Gallienus remained in the west with his hands full. Though the joint rulership of father and son constituted an instant dynasty, Gallienus found hope for its continuation in his two sons, Valerian II and Saloninus. Gallienus wasted no time in training his eldest son, Valerian II and raising him to rank of Caesar in 256, after which he fought against Germans on the Rhine. There the young Caesar seems to have performed well, and in 258 he accompanied his father on a more urgent campaign against the Goths on the Danube, where he died. We do not know the cause of the death of Valerian II – natural causes or battle injuries are likely possibilities – but its effect was devastating on his proud father Gallienus, who then raised his youngest son, Saloninus, to the rank of Caesar in his place.