155. A medal which bears the head of Gallienus has perplexed
the antiquarians by its legend and reverse; the former
Galliene Augustae, the latter Ubique Pax. M. Spanheim
supposes that the coin was struck by some of the enemies of
Gallienus, and was designed as a severe satire on that
effeminate prince. But as the use of irony may seem unworthy
of the gravity of the Roman mint, M. de Vallemont has
deduced from a passage of Trebellius Pollio (Hist. August.
p. 198) an ingenious and natural solution. Galliena was
first cousin to the emperor. By delivering Africa from the
usurper Celsus, she deserved the title of Augusta. On a
medal in the French king's collection, we read a similar
inscription of Faustina Augusta round the head of Marcus
Aurelius. With regard to the Ubique Pax, it is easily
explained by the vanity of Gallienus, who seized perhaps,
the occasion of some momentary calm. Nouvelles de la
Republique des Lettres, Janvier 1700, p. 21-34.