IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG, Valerian facing right // VICTORIA AVGG,Victory standing left, holding wreath and palm branch. 20 mm, 3.1 grams. Asian mint (Samosata?). RSC 230, RIC 125.

Valerian I (253–260 CE) was Roman emperor during the turbulent Crisis of the Third Century, ruling jointly with his son Gallienus. He concentrated on defending the eastern provinces against the Sasanian Empire, but in 260 his army was defeated by Shapur I near Edessa and Valerian was captured - the only Roman emperor known to have been taken prisoner by a foreign enemy. He died in Persian captivity, while Gallienus continued as sole emperor.