Collection History: Donated in 1897 by Dr. Wilson A. Farnsworth
Minted in Asia.
Salonina was the wife of the emperor Gallienus, who ruled from 253-268 AD. The reverse of this coin references Concordia, the Roman goddess of harmony, and was often associated with political stability and peace. By showing the empress Salonina clasping hands with her husband Gallienus, the coin not only solidifies the message of bringing harmony to the Roman people, but also creates a subtle connection between the goddess Concordia and the empress Salonina. The crescent that her bust rests upon on the obverse further suggests a deliberate association with divinity. Allison Gamble 2013.