Æ26 - Valerian and Gallienus ΑΡΤΕΜΙϹ ΕΦΕϹΙΩΝ

Ephesus struck coins in the names of co-emperors throughout the joint reign of Valerian I and Gallienus — a period when the Roman empire was fracturing under simultaneous pressure from Sassanid invasion in the east and Gothic incursions across the Danube. Valerian himself was captured by Shapur I at Edessa around 260 AD, the first Roman emperor taken prisoner by a foreign enemy, leaving Gallienus to rule alone for the remainder of the period. Provincial mints like Ephesus continued issuing bronze coinage largely independent of imperial direction during this collapse.