Valerian I Roman Silver Antoninianus (AD 253-260) NGC

Own a certified Roman Silver Antoninianus of Valerian I (AD 253–260), authenticated and slabbed by NGC. This dramatic coin comes from one of the darkest chapters of the Roman Empire’s Third Century Crisis.

Valerian I came to power during a time of extreme instability, battling multiple threats along the empire’s frontiers. His reign ended in disaster in 260 AD when, during a campaign against the Persian Sassanid Empire, he was captured alive — an unprecedented humiliation for a Roman emperor. According to ancient sources, Valerian suffered a grim fate: dying in captivity and having his corpse grotesquely displayed, stuffed and hung on the wall of the Persian king’s palace as a trophy.

Despite his tragic end, Valerian’s rule marked serious attempts to stabilize the crumbling empire. His coinage reflects traditional Roman imagery of strength, virtue, and divine favor, as the empire struggled to maintain its power against mounting internal and external pressures.

Antoninianii of Valerian typically show his radiate-crowned portrait on the obverse, while the reverse features deities, military allegories, or symbols of imperial authority.

Certified by NGC, this Silver Antoninianus offers collectors a powerful and sobering reminder of Rome’s vulnerabilities during the mid-third century. A must-have for those interested in Roman military emperors, imperial history, or the saga of Rome’s greatest crises.