GALLIENUS. 260-268 AD. AV Medallion of 6 Aurei (24.66 gm). Struck circa 
      260-263 AD. Milan mint. IMP GALLIENVS P F AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust 
      right, seen from front, left shoulder draped, cuirass shoulder pad 
      decorated with vine-tendrils / VIRTVS AVG, emperor, cuirassed and with 
      flying paludamentum, thrusting downward-pointing spear in right hand, 
      riding horse prancing left over kneeling barbarian, raising arms in 
      submission. For obverse type, cf. Göbl, MIR 36, 43, 44, 533 (medallion of 
      2 aurei, Rome mint, different legend and no vine-tendrils), for reverse 
      type, cf. Göbl 1406 (Siscia, antoninianus with emperor riding right), for 
      portrait style, cf. Göbl 1050-1052 (Milan). EF, a touch of striking 
      softness and a few scattered light marks. Unpublished and unique. [See 
      color plate 10] ($125,000)


By the end of Valerian.s reign the 
      two-tier gold system, aurei and double aurei or .biniones., of Gallus and 
      Volusian appears to have lapsed, and the laureate aureus diminished in 
      weight to less than two scruples (about 2.1 gm). The mint of Milan 
      immediately proceeded to strike a new reformed gold coinage largely with a 
      military flavour in some quantity, and in great rapidity. The weight 
      standard of these post-reform aurei is based on about 4.44 grams or four 
      scruples at 70-72 to the pound (cf. RIC V part I, p. 31 note 3), more or 
      less restoring the standard aureus of Gordian III and Philip the Arab's 
      time. This unique multiple is the first and only known example of 
      post-reform six aurei medallion.

Triton V Sale, 16 Jan 2002, lot 2096.
Later re-sold at the Gemini I auction for $85,000.

 Lot was unsold.


By permission of CNG, www.cngcoins.com.