Æ21 - Valerian and Gallienus COL AV TRO

Alexandria Troas held the rare distinction of being a Roman colony in the Greek East, granted colonial status by Augustus, which entitled it to produce coinage imitating the weight and module of Roman bronze — an unusual privilege for a city in the Asian provinces. The joint reign of Valerian and Gallienus, during which this piece was struck, saw the empire fighting simultaneous frontier crises on the Rhine and Euphrates, and Valerian's eventual capture by Shapur I in 260 would end the co-regency abruptly.

The colony's mint was notably active under this pairing, producing a wider variety of types than under most preceding reigns.