Gallienus, 253-268, Antoninianus

Gallienus, antoninianus, BI, reign 253–268 AD, Rome mint, 1.94 g, 21 mm. Obverse with radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, legend GALLIENVS AVG. Reverse with griffin walking left, legend APOLLINI CONS AVG, a Zoo Series type invoking Apollo as protector of the emperor. Light billon fabric with reduced silvering typical of the period; centrally struck with generally clear legends and devices. RIC V (Gallienus) 163.

Gallienus’ Zoo Series antoniniani were issued during the mid-3rd century when the antoninianus had undergone major debasement and served as the principal circulating denomination of the empire. The series pairs deities and animals in protective dedications, functioning as public statements of imperial piety and divine guardianship amid sustained military crises, frontier pressures, and internal instability during Gallienus’ reign.