AE Antoninianus, A.D. 256, Viminacium, 23mm, 3.92g, 0°, RIC Vi 211a.
Obv: IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG. Radiate, draped bust right.
Rev: AETERNITATI AVGG. Sol standing left raising right hand and holding globe in left.
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Publius Licinius Valerianus Augustus, also known as Valerian the Elder, was Roman Emperor from 253 to 260. Unlike the majority of the pretenders during the Crisis of the Third Century, Valerian was of a traditional senatorial family. Details of his early life are elusive, but for his marriage to Egnatia Mariniana, who gave him two sons: later emperor Gallienus and Valerian II who served as Caesar under Valerian.

While serving as governor of the Rhine provinces of Noricum and Raetia, his predecessor Trebonianus Gallus asked him for reinforcements to quell the rebellion of Aemilianus in 253. Valerian headed south, but was too late: Gallus's own troops had killed him and joined Aemilianus before his arrival. The Raetian soldiers then proclaimed Valerian emperor and continued their march towards Rome. At the time of his arrival in September or October, Aemilianus' legions defected, killing him and proclaiming Valerian emperor. In Rome, the Senate quickly acknowledged his accession.

In the East, Antioch had fallen into the hands of a Sassanid vassal and Armenia was occupied by Shapur I. Valerian headed east to address the Persian threat. By 257, Valerian had recovered Antioch and in 259 he focused his attention on Edessa. At the beginning of 260, Valerian was decisively defeated in the Battle of Edessa and he arranged a meeting with Shapur to negotiate a peace settlement. The truce was betrayed by Shapur who seized him and held him prisoner for the remainder of his life. Valerian's capture was a scorching defeat for the Romans. An early source claims that Valerian was subjected to the greatest insults by his captors, such as being used as a human footstool by Shapur when mounting his horse. Some modern scholars, however, believe his captivity was spent in relative comfort. The date of his death is unknown.