The Silver Antoninianus of Salonina: Empress of a Fractured Empire
 
This Silver Antoninianus, struck during the joint reign of Gallienus and his wife, Salonina (AD 257–258), offers a poignant glimpse into the role of imperial women during one of the most tumultuous periods in Roman history.
 
Salonina: The Empress Behind the Throne
Cornelia Salonina, the wife of Emperor Gallienus, served as Augusta during a time of relentless challenges for the Roman Empire, including invasions, internal rebellions, and economic instability. Little is known about Salonina’s early life, but as empress, she was a prominent symbol of continuity, stability, and the values of the imperial household. Her coins reflect her elevated status and emphasize her role as a partner in rule, a mother of heirs, and a protector of the Roman state.
 
Obverse: The Portrait of Augusta
The obverse of this coin features a portrait of Salonina, radiate or diademed, facing right. The inscription, SALONINA AVG (Salonina Augusta), highlights her imperial dignity. The radiate crown is particularly notable, as it aligns her imagery with divine light and the solar associations commonly attributed to emperors. This deliberate iconography underscores Salonina’s semi-divine status and her connection to the broader ideals of Roman governance.
 
Reverse: Propaganda of Prosperity
The reverse legend and imagery often emphasize themes of fertility, stability, or divine favor—concepts essential for morale during this unstable era. While the exact reverse of this specific coin isn’t detailed, many coins of Salonina display deities such as Venus, Juno, or Pietas, underscoring her roles as a nurturing figure and protector of the Roman people.
 
Historical Background
Salonina, wife of Emperor Gallienus, served as Augusta during one of the most volatile periods of the Roman Empire—the Crisis of the Third Century. Her reign coincided with severe military threats, economic instability, and widespread political unrest. Despite this, she was honored on coinage throughout the empire. Her depictions often emphasize divine favor, stability, and her role as a moral anchor during Gallienus's reign. Her close association with the goddess Juno in Roman iconography highlights her status as both a powerful female figure and guardian of dynastic continuity.
 
The Coin’s Journey
Struck in Rome between AD 257 and 258 during the joint reign of Gallienus and Salonina, this silver antoninianus was minted in a time of extreme political and economic upheaval. As the Roman Empire faced invasions, internal revolts, and financial strain, coins like this circulated widely as part of imperial propaganda to reinforce stability and divine favor through the empress.
 
In its time, this coin held significant purchasing power. It could buy a soldier several days’ worth of rations—bread, cheese, and a measure of wine—or be used by a Roman citizen to pay for goods like lamp oil, pottery, or entry into a public bath.
 
The image of Juno Regina on the reverse served both religious and political roles. To the people, it reinforced the sanctity of the imperial household and the idea that divine forces guided the empire even during hardship. Its elegant portrait of Salonina and silver sheen would have made it a prestigious and reassuring sight in Roman markets and military outposts.
 
Eventually, the coin passed through countless hands—legionaries, merchants, temple priests, or aristocratic women—until it was lost to time. Perhaps dropped on a villa floor or swept into the soil during a time of crisis, it remained buried for nearly two millennia.
 
Recently rediscovered, it has been cleaned and preserved using modern techniques, revealing its impressive state and bold detail. Now mounted and authenticated, this antoninianus stands not only as a monetary artifact but as a symbol of resilience, grace, and imperial power embodied by Empress Salonina herself.