Ave!

Gallienus, Antoninianus, Annona reverse

Æ; 19mm/3.5gm       Struck ca. 262 AD - Rome mint?

Con/ Well struck and centered with fresh dies, warm brown patina; struck on a somewhat short flan, otherwise, Very Fine.

Obv/ GALLIENVS AVG; radiate head right.

Rev/ ANNONA AVG; Annona standing right, left foot on prow, holding rudder set on globe in her right hand and grain ears in her left.

Ref/ RIC Vol V, 161 var.

Seller's Note/ Annona was the goddess of the wheat-harvest, and more particularly, the tutelary deity over-seeing the vital grain imports from North Africa. Her attributes were grain stalks, cornucopia, modius and galley prow. Our example features a very crisp image of Annona but where is the rudder and globe? Her foot is on something but it doesn't look much like a prow. Very curious!