A posthumous antoninianus of Mariniana, wife of Valerian I and mother of Gallienus, struck following her deification. Relatively little is known about the empress herself, and her name and portrait are preserved primarily through her consecration coinage. She died before Valerian’s accession in AD 253, while coins honouring her were issued several years later, emphasizing her position within the ruling imperial dynasty.
The obverse legend DIVAE MARINIANAE, “To the Divine Mariniana”, explicitly refers to her posthumous divine status. The reverse legend CONSECRATIO is accompanied by a peacock, a bird closely associated with Juno and the apotheosis of imperial women. In Roman coinage, the peacock fulfilled a role comparable to that of the eagle on consecration issues for deified emperors, symbolizing the deceased empress’s ascent to the divine realm.
The issue represents an interesting example of dynastic propaganda under Valerian and Gallienus, in which the cult of deceased members of the imperial family reinforced the prestige and sacred character of the ruling house.
Large flan loss at the edge.
Roman Imperial
Egnatia Mariniana (wife Valerian I, mother of Gallienus, died before 253), Antoninianus 256-257, Rome mint
Obverse: diademed and draped bust on crescent right
DIVAE MARINIANAE
Reverse: peacock standing front, head left
CONSECRATIO
Diameter 23 mm, weight 3.36 g
