Collection Item – Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

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Coin, Antoninianus, Victorinus; 269-271 CE; 180.96.32

From:UC Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

Name/TitleCoin, Antoninianus, Victorinus

About this objectThis coin features a bust of Marcus Piavonius (or Piaonius) Victorinus, who was emperor of the breakaway Gallic Empire from 269-271 CE. Victorinus had been a soldier, who was elevated to co-Consul in 268 CE. Victorinus ruled for around two years before being murdered by his own officers, who were upset by his relentless pursuit of married women (including their own wives).

The bust of Victorinus on the obverse of this coin shows him in cuirass and radiate crown. On the reverse is an image of Salus feeding a serpent, with the inscription SALVS AVG. Salus was a Roman goddess or personification of well-being and social welfare, identified and worshipped as Hygieia by the Greeks, and as Ðirona (Sirona, Thirona) by the Gauls. To the Romans, the serpent is also a sign of health-restoring faculty and renovation, because the serpent would cast off its old skin to become young again. In the same way, it was believed that the sick, through the help of healing deities, could renew life and put off old age. It has been suggested that the mention of the deities of health on an emperor's coin indicated that the ruler was afflicted by some disease.

An antoninianus was a Roman coin thought to be valued at around two denarii.

Date Made269-271 CE

PeriodImperial (Roman)

Place MadeGermany

Place NotesMainz or Trier mint

Medium and MaterialsMetal: Billon (silver copper alloy)

Style and IconographyRoman

Inscription and MarksObverse:
IMP C VICTORINVS PF AVG
(Imperator Caesar Victorinus Pius Felix Augustus)
Emperor (Commander-in-Chief) Caesar Victorinus, dutiful and fortunate Augustus

Reverse:
SALVS AVG
(Salus Augusti / Salus Augusta)
(Dedicated to) The health of the Emperor

TechniqueStriking (metalworking)

MeasurementsWeight 3.34g
Diameter ca. 18mm

Subject and Association KeywordsEmperors

Subject and Association KeywordsGoddesses in art

Subject and Association KeywordsKings and rulers in art

Subject and Association KeywordsNumismatics

Subject and Association KeywordsInscriptions, Latin

Subject and Association KeywordsMedicine and Art

Named CollectionThe James Logie Memorial Collection, University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Credit LineDonated by M.K. Steven, 1996.

Object TypeExchange Media

Object number180.96.32