Note 155
From Chapter 10 of the Decline & Fall

A medal which bears the head of Gallienus has perplexed the antiquarians by its legend and reverse; the former Galliene Augustae, the latter Ubique Pax. M. Spanheim supposes that the coin was struck by some of the enemies of Gallienus, and was designed as a severe satire on that effeminate prince. But as the use of irony may seem unworthy of the gravity of the Roman mint, M. de Vallemont has deduced from a passage of Trebellius Pollio (Hist. August. p. 198) an ingenious and natural solution. Galliena was first cousin to the emperor. By delivering Africa from the usurper Celsus, she deserved the title of Augusta. On a medal in the French king's collection, we read a similar inscription of Faustina Augusta round the head of Marcus Aurelius. With regard to the Ubique Pax, it is easily explained by the vanity of Gallienus, who seized perhaps, the occasion of some momentary calm. Nouvelles de la Republique des Lettres, Janvier 1700, p. 21-34.

« LAST » Note « NEXT »