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Lot Essay
Gallienus (c.218-268 A.D.) was Roman Emperor with his father Valerian from 253-260 A.D. and alone from 260-268 A.D., when he was brutally assassinated outside his tent whilst on military campaign near Milan. His reign was occupied with quelling rebellions and repulsing invasions along the Rhine and Danube. Although not a soldier emperor, he was known for taking military control away from the civilian Senate and giving it to professional equestrian officers, and for expanding the role of the cavalry by creating a mobile cavalry reserve, which became invaluable to the army of the later empire.
By portraying himself with the attributes of the gods on his coinage, Gallienus began the final separation of the Emperor from his subjects. The above head depicts him gazing heavenward, associating himself with the gods. He was one of the last rulers of Rome to be called Princeps and his self-promotion paved the way for later rulers to be addressed as "Dominus et Deus" (Lord and God).
By portraying himself with the attributes of the gods on his coinage, Gallienus began the final separation of the Emperor from his subjects. The above head depicts him gazing heavenward, associating himself with the gods. He was one of the last rulers of Rome to be called Princeps and his self-promotion paved the way for later rulers to be addressed as "Dominus et Deus" (Lord and God).