Plated Antoninianus of Gallienus

Like so many of the coins of Gallienus and Valerian, this one is flatly struck and of poor workmanship, though technically it is EF or near uncirculated when judged on circulation wear alone. This can be determined by looking for wear on the hairlines and the tips of the radiate crown, meanwhile ignoring the extremely flat strike giving the coin an appearance of one only in very good or fine condition. If this weren't enough, most coins struck during the reign of Gallienus were of poor billon containing only 5 to 10 percent silver, or were merely silver plated. This debasement of the coinage finally led to the period of economic collapse known as the Crisis of the Third Century.

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Emperor Gallienus Biographical and Historical Information.