GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right / APLLINI CONS AVG (sic), Griffin walking left. Officina letter Delta in exergue. Rome mint. 17.5mm, 2.15 grams. RIC V-1, Rome 166 (S)

Gallienus was Roman emperor from 253 to 268 CE, initially co-ruling with his father, Valerian, and later as sole emperor after his father’s capture by the Persians. His reign was marked by severe crises, including invasions, plagues, and numerous rebellions during what is known as the Crisis of the Third Century. Despite the turmoil, Gallienus implemented key military reforms, notably strengthening the role of cavalry units and relying on mobile field armies. He was a patron of culture and the arts, fostering intellectual life in the empire. Ultimately, his reign ended when he was assassinated in 268 CE during a conspiracy among his own commanders, but his efforts helped stabilize parts of the empire in an extremely volatile period.