Roman Empire. Gallienus, joint reign. Antoninianus Minted in Rome, 2nd issue, AD 255-256. LAETITIA AVGG. (No reserve price)

During the joint reign of Gallienus and his father Valerian, the Roman Empire experienced unprecedented pressures from invasions, revolts, and economic instability. The antoninianus coin minted in Rome in the years AD 255-256, known as the second issue, often carried reverse types celebrating virtues or personifications linked to imperial wellbeing. One such reverse, "LAETITIA AVGG," shows the personification Laetitia, symbolizing joy or happiness of the emperors (Augusti). These depictions served as optimistic propaganda tools to reassure the populace and military of continuity and stability. The antoninianus had become the principal silver coin circulating in the empire by this time, despite ongoing debasement. Coins from this era are valuable sources for understanding the artistry, political messages, and economic conditions within the Roman Empire during the mid-3rd century, providing tangible artifacts of a period frequently termed as a crisis but also resilience.