Gallienus struck these Alexandrian tetradrachms during a period when his empire had effectively splintered — the Gallic Empire had broken away in the west, Odaenathus of Palmyra was operating as a semi-autonomous power in the east, and Gallienus held only the rump of Roman territory. The L Θ regnal year date places this piece in year nine of his reign as reckoned by the Alexandrian calendar, running from late 261 into 262 AD. Egypt remained firmly under his control throughout, making the Alexandria mint one of his most reliable sources of coinage during the crisis years.
Gallienus struck these Alexandrian tetradrachms during a period when his empire had effectively splintered — the Gallic Empire had broken away in the west, Odaenathus of Palmyra was operating as a semi-autonomous power in the east, and Gallienus held only the rump of Roman territory. The L Θ regnal year date places this piece in year nine of his reign as reckoned by the Alexandrian calendar, running from late 261 into 262 AD. Egypt remained firmly under his control throughout, making the Alexandria mint one of his most reliable sources of coinage during the crisis years.