Provincial bronze issue of Valerian I (AD 253–260), struck at Antioch in Pisidia, belongs to the colonial coinage of Asia Minor, where clear continuations of Roman iconographic models—especially military themes—are evident.
The obverse shows a radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of the emperor facing right, with the legend IMP CAE R ASLL OVNAHHIR, representing a barbarized and locally altered version of the Latin imperial titulature. Such distortions are well documented in 3rd-century provincial and colonial coinage, where official models were often copied without full understanding of Latin orthography.
The reverse depicts two legionary standards flanking an eagle (aquila), with the letters S–R in the fields and the legend ANTIO CHIO CL, referring to the city’s colonial status (Colonia Antiochia). This composition belongs to the standard repertoire of Roman military imagery, in which the aquila symbolizes the honor and identity of the legions, while the standards emphasize their organization and strength.
Provincial Rome
Pisidia, Antioch, Valerianus I (253-260), AE
Obverse: Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
IMP CAE R ASLL OVNAHHIR
Reverse: vexillum topped by eagle and flanked by standards, S-R across fields
ANTIO CHIO CL
Diameter 23 mm, weight 4.90 g
