Gallien

Son of Valerian, Gallienus reigned fifteen years, first with his father and then alone after the capture of 260, at the lowest point of the crisis: Gaul seceded, Palmyra took the East, the frontiers gave way. Yet he held the centre, created a mobile cavalry force, and gathered philosophers around a lettered court. His officers murdered him before Milan in 268. His immense coinage tracks the collapse of the silver.

This coin dates from the sole reign, after Valerian's capture: the empire was shorn of Gaul and the East, the mints struck ever poorer billon in bulk, and the reverses summon every protecting god.