FIDES MILITVM: Medallions and Military Alliances during the Reign of Valerian and Gallienus

Abstract

During the 3rd century, Roman emperors increasingly issued gold coins and medallions for high-ranking military officials, evolving from earlier bronze versions. Under Emperor Gallienus, these heavy gold medallions served as gifts and religious symbols of loyalty, aiming to counteract inflation’s impact on the army’s purchasing power. This paper examines medallions from Valerian and Gallienus’s reign (253–268), focusing on materials, imagery, and reverse inscriptions. Obverses prominently feature figures like Gallienus, Concordia, or Pietas, while reverses emphasise Moneta, Virtus, and Fides Militum, underscoring monetary quality, martial valour, and military loyalty.