498

Magnentius was one of the generals under the command of Constans. Early in the year 350 he gathered that the tide of wars was turning against the dominion of the Constantines and declared himself emperor. On hearing of the news Constans was dispossessed and took flight. He found temporary shelter in a Augustus 350-353 temple he hoped would be his sanctuary. Magnentius sent a few of his men for him, tracked him down then breached the temple and murdered him. The rule of the whole western empire was now under his control. Constantius II was thousands of miles away embroiled in a difficult war with the Parthians in Syria and it took several months to hear of what happened out west. He had the difficult choice of following through with this war or take care of the dangerous usurpation of Magnentius. He decided to sign a hasty peace treaty with the Parthians which ceded vast sections of territory and zoomed westwards to deal with Magnentius. For his part, Magnentius tried in vain to seek a diplomatic solution to the problem with Constantius as he wanted to avoid an open armed conflict with his army at all costs. This not only did not pan out but he also had to deal with a revolt launched by a relative of Constantius within Rome itself. This strained Magnentius's resources while the main arm of Constantius's army inexorably approached. The revolt was eventually crushed but his forces were weakened. In the end he was unable to avoid the inevitable and faced several losing battles against Constantius. As he retreated farther into his heartland he realized it was a lost cause and committed suicide.

Magnentius

Busts:
1) 2) 3) Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (laurels and rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) DN MAG MAGNENTIVS PF AVG DN MAGNENTIO PERPETVO AVG DN MAGNENTIVS AVG DN MAGNENTIVS PF AG DN MAGNENTIVS PF AVG FL MAGNENTIVS PF AVG IM CAE MAGNENTIVS AVG IMP CAE MAGNENTIVS AVG IMP CAES MAGNENTIVS AVG MAG MAGNENTIVS AVG MAGNENTIVS AVG

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) BEATITVDO PVBLICA BIS RESTITVTA LIBERTAS FEL TEMP REPARATIO FELICITAS PERPETVA FELICITAS REIPVBLICE GLORIA ET REPARATIO TEMPORVM GLORIA ROMANORVM LIBERATOR REIPVBLICAE PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS RESTITVTOR LIBERTATIS SALVS DD NN AVG ET CAES SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE TRIVMFATOR GENTIVM BARBARVM VICT AVG LIB ROM ORB VICT CAES LIB ROM ORB VICT DD NN AVG ET CAES VICTORIA AVG ET CAES VICTORIA AVG LIB ROMANOR VICTORIA DD NN AVGG VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAE VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAES VICTORIAE DD NN AVGG VIRTVS AVG NOSTRI VIRTVS AVGVSTI NOSTRI VIRTVS EXERCITI VRBS ROMA

For the average collector coins of Magnentius will be restricted to the relatively scarce bronzes which come in the bigger AE1, 2 and 3 size classes. These are typically fairly low grade but not very expensive. Many will have the telltale crude styling associated with non-official strikes by Celtic tribes living within or near Roman towns. These semi-autonomous people closely copied the themes of Roman coins but with their own distinct style. Because they were typically illiterate the legends are often blundered or completely nonsensical. All in all these coins are neither rare nor especially valuable. Due to their very wide variance in styling they defy cataloguing and so are often simply sold as barbarous imitations. Of those bronzes that can be classified as having come from a regular mint, most of the available ones are in rather poor shape but they carry correspondingly palatable price tags, perhaps only a few dollars each. The top grade bronzes are rare and can cost up to two or three hundred dollars each. The collector with a more generous budget may expect to acquire a silver or gold piece but by and large these are extremely rare.

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Aequitas standing left, holding scale and cornucopia Chi-Rho, A and across fields Magnentius advancing right, dragging captive and holding bow with spear. Magnentius advancing right, dragging captive and holding spear with shield Magnentius riding horse right, facing bowing Aquileia, holding scroll and cornucopia Magnentius riding horse right, spearing barbarian; shield and broken spear under horse.

499
7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) Magnentius riding horse right, spearing two kneeling barbarians. Magnentius standing left on galley, holding Victory on globe and labarum; Victory seated to right, steering galley. Magnentius standing left with foot on kneeling captive, holding Victory on globe and labarum Magnentius standing left, holding globe and scepter Magnentius standing left, holding globe and scepter; kneeling captive to left. Magnentius standing left, holding labarum and resting hand on shield; two captives to left. Magnentius standing left, holding labarum and spear Magnentius standing left, holding standard and labarum Magnentius standing left, holding Victory on globe and labarum Magnentius standing left, holding Victory on globe and standard Magnentius standing left, raising hand and holding branch; labarum to left and kneeling captive to right Magnentius standing left, stepping on seated captive, holding eagle on globe and spear. Magnentius standing right, stepping on captive, holding labarum and branch. Magnentius standing, facing, resting hand on kneeling captive and holding labarum Securitas standing, facing, with legs crossed and leaning on column with elbow, resting head on hand. Soldier standing left, spearing falling horseman. Victories (2) standing, facing each other, holding wreath reading VOT / V / MVL / X on column Victories (2) standing, facing each other, holding wreath reading VOT / V / MVLT / X Victories (2) standing, facing each other, holding wreath reading VOT / V / MVLT / X on column Victories (2) standing, facing each other, holding wreath reading VOT / X Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm Victory advancing left, holding wreath and trophy Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / V / MVL / X Victory seated right, holding wreath reading VOT / V / MVLT / X Victory standing right on left, holding palm, facing Libertas to right, holding scepter, together holding trophy Virtus standing, facing, holding spear and resting hand on shield. Wreath, Chi-Rho with A to left and to right within Wreath, VOT / V / MVLT / X within

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) Ambianum Aquileia Arelate Lugdunum Roma Siscia Treveri

AU Medallion
1) B1, O9, R08, T05, M02 Exe: SMAQ

Reference(s)
Three Solidi weight
RIC 122 (VIII, Aquileia)

AU Solidus
2) 3) B1, O5, R18, T31, M7 Exe: TR B1, O8, R18, T31, M7 Exe: TR RIC 276 (VIII, Trier) RIC 247 (VIII, Trier)

AR Miliarense
4) B1, O7, R23, T11, M7 Exe: TR RIC 257 (VIII, Aquileia)

AR Siliqua
5) 6) B1, O5, R04, T28, M2 Exe: AQ B1, O7, R25, T32, M7 Exe: TR RIC 146 (VIII, Aquileia) RIC 256 (VIII, Trier)

AE1
7) B1, O5, R11, T02, M1 Exe: AMB RIC 122 (VIII, Aquileia)

AE2
8) 9) 10) 11) 12) B1, O5, R11, T02, M3 Exe: S`AR B1, O5, R20, T24, M1 Exe: AMB* B1, O5, R20, T24, M7 Exe: TR` B1, O5, R20, T25, M1 Exe: AMB B1, O9, R18, T19, M5 Exe: A/RF` A behind bust A behind bust A behind bust RIC 198 (VIII, Arles) RIC 14 (VIII, Amiens), L 10 RIC 307 (VIII, Trier) RIC 5 (VIII, Amiens) RIC 179 (VIII, Rome), L 635

AE3
13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) B1, O5, R07, T06, M2 Exe: B/*/AQ` B1, O5, R07, T06, M3 Exe: */`AR B1, O5, R07, T06, M4 Exe: R`LG B1, O5, R11, T02, M4 Exe: L`LG B1, O5, R11, T02, M7 Exe: TR` B1, O5, R21, T24, M4 Exe: * over SV/R`LG B1, O5, R21, T24, M7 Exe: TR` A behind bust RIC 160 (VIII, Aquileia), L 906 RIC 150 (VIII, Arles), L 421 RIC 115 (VIII, Lyons), L 214 RIC 154 (VIII, Lyons), L 238 RIC 320 (VIII, Trier), L 62 RIC 123 (VIII, Lyons) RIC 312 (VIII, Trier), L 60

A behind bust A behind bust

500
Magnentius Bust

Magnentius Types

Brother of Magnentius, the ill-fated usurper who almost upset the Constantine dynasty. Decentius was made Caesar shortly after Magnentius had gained control of Italy in a clear signal that he meant to start an imperial dynasty of his own. Unfortunately, the war did not go Caesar 351-353 well for Magnentius and, following a devastating defeat in battle, committed suicide rather than test the mercy of Constantius II. On hearing of Magnentius' suicide Decentius followed suit and hanged himself.

Decentius

Busts:
1) 2) Bare headed, cuirassed bust right Bare headed, draped and cuirassed bust right

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) DECENTIVS FOR CAES DN DECENTIVS CAESAR DN DECENTIVS FORT CAES DN DECENTIVS NOB CAES

A bit harder to find than the coins of Magnentius but not significantly so. Most coins available will be bronzes that have been found in Spain. Due to the overall arid soil conditions in this region the coins will often sport attractive, sandy patinas that most collectors choose to leave alone as it tends to enhance contrast. While the coins are not generally hard to find, finding them in tip top shape is another matter. The greater part of the bronzes available, regardless of attractive patinas, will lack full, readable legends and often have significant porosity or flan defects. For this reason prices overall are depressed. A wellpreserved bronze is a rather rare sight and these coins are typically sold via the bigger auction houses and prices reach into the low hundreds even for common issues. Silver and gold coins are very rare.

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) AEQVITAS AVG NOSTRI GLORIA ROMANORVM MAG DECENTIVS N CS MAG DECENTIVS NOB CAES MAGNVS DECENTIVS NOB CAES PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS PRINCITI IVVENTVTIS SALVS DD NN AVG ET CAES VICT CAES LIB ROM ORB VICT DD NN AVG ET CAES VICTORIA AVG ET CAES VICTORIA AVG LIB ROMANOR VICTORIA CAES LIB ROMANOR VICTORIA DD NN AVGG VICTORIA DN CAES

501
16) 17) VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAE VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAES 18) 19) VIRTVS EXERCITI VIRTVS EXERCITVS

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) Aequitas standing left, holding scale and cornucopia. Decentius advancing right, holding spear and globe. Decentius riding horse right, spearing barbarian; shield under horse. Decentius standing left, holding globe and scepter Decentius standing right, stepping on captive, holding labarum and spear. Large Chi-Rho; A and across fields Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe and scepter; shield to side. Securitas standing, facing, leaning on column, resting head on hand. Victories (2) standing, facing each other, holding together wreath reading VOT / V / MVL / X on column Victories (2) standing, facing each other, holding together wreath reading VOT / V / MVLT / X on column. Victories (2) standing, facing each other, holding together wreath reading VOT / V / MVLT / X Victories (2) standing, facing each other, holding together wreath reading VOT / V / MVL / X Victories (2) standing, facing each other, holding together wreath reading VOT / V / MVLT / X; Chi-Rho over wreath. Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. Victory standing right on left, holding trophy together with Libertas to right, holding scepter.

Mints:
1) 2) 3) Ambianum Aquileia Arelate 4) 5) 6) Lugdunum Roma Siscia 7) Treveri

AU Solidus
1) B2, O3, R13, T15, M7 Exe: TR

Reference(s)
RIC 294 (VIII, Trier), C 31

AE2
2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) B1, O4, R08, T06, M4 Exe: P`LG B1, O4, R16, T10, M1 Exe: AMB A behind bust B1, O4, R16, T12, M4 Exe: over SV/R`LG B1, O4, R16, T12, M4 Exe: * over SV/R`LG B1, O4, R16, T12, M4 Exe: SP/R`LG B2, O2, R16, T12, M3 Exe: IS/`AR A behind bust B2, O3, R08, T06, M7 Exe: TR` B2, O3, R17, T11, M2 Exe: AQ` A behind bust B2, O4, R16, T10, M4 Exe: R`LG B2, O4, R16, T10, M4 Exe: S/V/R`LG RIC 159 (VIII, Lyons), L 243 RIC 6 (VIII, Amiens), L 6 RIC 187 (VIII, Lyons) RIC 137 (VIII, Lyons) RIC 178 (VIII, Arles) RIC 319 (VIII, Trier), L 63 RIC 171 (VIII, Aquileia), L 910 RIC 122 (VIII, Lyons), L 218 RIC 124 (VIII, Lyons)

AE3
12) B1, O4, R16, T11, M4 Exe: SP/R`LG RIC 137 (VIII, Lyons), L 228

Decentius Busts

Decentius Types

502
On hearing of the murder of Constans and the usurpation of the title by his former general Magnentius, the citizens of Rome named Nepotian emperor instead. He was a nephew of Constantius II who, because of his very young age, escaped Augustus 350 the massacre of his family some twelve years before. By holding out on Magnentius the city hoped to cut off key supplies while Constantius and his armies hurried from Persia to meet the threat of Magnentius. Unfortunately for Nepotian and his fellow rebels, Magnentius quickly set out to plug this loophole and was able to enter Rome with his own army and then find and execute him. Because Nepotian ruled for only a month what few coins were struck in his name are highly sought after by collectors today. Busts:
1) 2) Bare headed, draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right

Nepotian

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) DN IVL NEPOTIANVS PF AVG FL NEP CONSTANTINVS AVG FL POP NEPOTIANVS PF AVG

Reverses:
1) 2) GLORIA ROMANORVM VRBS ROMA

Well, heres one emperor likely to never grace your collection. Sorry. You can thank the fact that his coin-striking days lasted all of three weeks or so (if that). He rebelled on June 3, 350 and was th handed off to the executioner on the 30 of the same month. We may probably assume that the mint in Rome took a few days to even begin issuing coins with his name so that gives one pause as to the meager amount of time left to make a handful of coins. And lets not forget this was a millennium and a half ago! Nevertheless, if shelling out ten grand or so on a coin is not distressing you only need wait til the next one shows up at auction. If past history is any indication this seems to happen about once every other year or two.

Types:
1) 2) Nepotian riding hosre right, spearing enemy; star above Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe and spear.

Mint:
1) Roma

AE2
1) 2) B1, O3, R1, T1 Exe: R` B1, O3, R2, T2 Exe: R`

Reference(s)
RIC VIII 200, L 643 RIC VIII 202, L 645

AE3
3) B2, O2, R2, T2 Exe: R` RIC VIII 203, L 644

Nepotian Busts

Nepotian Types

503
When word of Constans' fate got out Constantius II was too far away to be immediately effective. However, his sister Constantina was an ardent supporter of his and was able to incite a revolt in Rome on her brother's behalf. This gave rise to the short-lived rule of Nepotian. At her insistence she was also able to convince Augustus 350 Vetranio to go on the rebel warpath as well. Unlike Nepotian, however, Magnentius resisted the urge to squash this impostor and instead tried to have Vetranio recognize him. Not much came of these talks because Constantius was by now nearby and he met Vetranio in person to discuss the situation. After their meeting was over Vetranio abdicated and retired as private citizen along with a generous pension from Constantius. This left Magnentius diplomatically isolated again and the two would confront each other in battle soon after. Bust: Vetranio is about the most difficult emperor that can be (reasonably) 1) Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right expected to be found among ordinary uncleaned Roman coins as sold in 2) Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust bulk. And thats not to say that he appears often. For having been minting right coins less than a year he is naturally not very easily available. 3) Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust

Vetranio

right, holding spear and shield

Obverse:
1) DN VETRANIO PF AVG

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) CONCORDIA MILITVM GAVDIVM POPVLI ROMANI GLORIA ROMANORVM HOC SIGNO VICTOR ERIS SALVATOR REIPVBLICAE VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM VIRTVS AVGVSTORVM VIRTVS EXERCITVM

While a few silver coins rear up now and then most available will be the AE2s and AE3s bearing his name. Some collectors will be satisfied to own a Constantius II by Vetranio; that is, a coin bearing the name of Constantius II issued under the authority of Vetranio. These are considerably cheaper and are most often found with the Hoc Signo Victor Eris reverse. This type refers to Constantines vision of The Cross prior to the Milvian Bridge battle of 312 after which he became a Christian and to which he credited his victory over Maxentius. Altogether, his bronzes trade in a rather wide price margin from under $100 for the less well preserved to over $1,000 for gem coins. The silver issues are too rare to pin a going rate for but will most likely exchange hands for multiple thousands of dollars.

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10)

Vetranio standing left, holding labarum and spear. Vetranio standing left, holding labarum and spear, being crowned Victory to right, holding palm. Vetranio standing right, holding spear and globe; seated captive to right. Vetranio standing, facing, holding a labarum in each hand; star above. Vetranio standing, facing, holding labarum and resting hand on shield. Vetranio standing, facing, holding trophy and spear; seated captive to lower left. Victory advancing left, holding palm and trophy Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm Victory advancing left, holding wreath and trophy Wreath VOT / V / MVL / X within

Mints:
1) 2) Siscia Thessalonica

AU Solidus
1) B3, O1, R5, T02, M1 Exe: SIS

Reference(s)

AR Miliarense
2) B2, O1, R6, T08, M1 Exe: /SIS RIC 262 (VIII, Siscia)

AR Siliqua
3) B2, O1, R6, T09, M1 Exe: SIS RIC 267 (VIII, Siscia)

AE2
4) 5) B1, O1, R1, T04, M1 Exe: A/`SIS* B1, O1, R1, T04, M2 Exe: A/B/TS` A behind bust RIC 131 (VIII, Thessalonica), L 1658

AE3
6) B1, O1, R1, T04, M1 Exe: A/`SIS* A behind bust

Reference(s)
RIC 281 (VIII, Siscia), L 1168

504
7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) B1, O1, R1, T04, M1 Exe: A/`SIS* B1, O1, R1, T04, M1 Exe: A/`SIS* B1, O1, R3, T01, M1 Exe: `SIS B1, O1, R4, T02, M1 Exe: A/`SIS* B1, O1, R4, T02, M1 Exe: A/`SIS* B1, O1, R4, T02, M1 Exe: A/`SIS* B1, O1, R4, T02, M1 Exe: A/`SIS* B1, O1, R7, T03, M1 Exe: `SIS B1, O1, R8, T05, M2 Exe: TES` A behind bust, * in front A behind bust, * in front A behind bust A behind bust, * in front A behind bust, * in front A behind bust RIC 290 (VIII, Siscia), L 1176 RIC 285 (VIII, Siscia), L 1172 RIC 294 (VIII, Siscia), L 1180 RIC 281 (VIII, Siscia), L 1170 RIC 292 (VIII, Siscia), L 1178 RIC 287 (VIII, Siscia), L 1174 RIC 279 (VIII, Siscia), L 1166 RIC 296 (VIII, Siscia), L 1182 RIC 138 (VIII, Thessalonica), L 1652

Vetranio Busts

Vetranio Types

Gallus was one of the few who escaped the family massacre initiated by Constantine's sons in order to weed out possible future contestants to the throne. When Constantius II was unable to deal with lesser rebellions out east because more pressing issues Caesar 351-354 required his presence elsewhere, he decided it would be served best if a family member was given the task. So he summoned Gallus, made him Caesar and sent him on his mission. Although he was successful in dealing with the revolts, his methods were found to be so cruel that they would likely spawn new revolts. Word of his heavyhanded manners reached Constantius and he had him recalled. Being led to believe that he was going to be promoted to full Augustus, the happy Gallus arrived at court only to find out he was under arrest. He was then sent to an island, tried and executed.

Constantius Gallus

Busts:
1) 2) 3) Bare head right Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust left Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) CONSTANTIVS CAE CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES DN CONSTANTIVS FORT CAES DN CONSTANTIVS IVN NOB C DN CONSTANTIVS IVN NOB CAES DN CONSTANTIVS NOB C

Like most of the rest of the members of the Constantine clan, Constantius Gallus still has thousands of his coins lingering around in dusty museum bins and collectors collections. Most of these, not surprisingly, will be the ever-popular Fel Temps that were produced by the millions, and probably hundreds of millions, during the 350s for several emperors. Silver Siliquae are also fairly frequent as are the odd Solidus or two.

505
7) 8) 9) 10) DN CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES DN CONSTANTIVS NOB CS DN FL CL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) CONCORDIA MILITVM FEL TEMP REPARATIO FELICITAS ROMANORVM GLORIA EXERCITVS GLORIA REIPVBLICAE 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) GLORIA ROMANORVM HOC SIGNO VICTOR ERIS VICT DD NN AVG ET CAES VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM VICTORIA CAESARIS 11) 12) 13) 14) VICTORIA ROMANORVM VICTORIAE DD NN AVGG VIRTVS EXERCITVS No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) Constantinopolis seated left, stepping on galley prow, holding Victory on globe and scepter. Constantius Gallus advancing left, stepping on captive, holding Victory on globe and labarum. Constantius Gallus and Constantius II standing under arch, each holding a spear. Constantius Gallus standing left, holding labarum and spear, being crowned by Victory to right, holding palm. Constantius Gallus standing left, holding Victory on globe and spear, being crowned by Victory to right, holding palm. Constantius Gallus standing left on galley, holding Victory and labarum; Victory seated to right, steering galley. Constantius Gallus standing under arch, holding spear and globe, next to Victory, holding wreath and palm. Constantius Gallus standing, facing, holding a labarum in each hand. Constantius Gallus standing, facing, holding a labarum in each hand; star above. Constantius Gallus standing, facing, holding spear and resting hand on shield. Phoenix standing on rock pile Roma and Constantinopolis seated, facing, each holding Victory on globe and scepter. Roma, holding scepter, seated, facing and Constantinopolis, stepping on galley prow and holding scepter, seated left, together holding shield reading VO / TIS / V Roma, holding scepter, seated, facing and Constantinopolis, stepping on galley prow and holding scepter, seated left, together holding shield reading VOT / V / MVLT / X Roma standing left, holding Victory on globe and spear with shield. Soldier standing left, spearing fallen horseman. Standards (3) Standards (4) Victory advancing left, holding palm and trophy Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm; kneeling captive to left Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm; seated captive on either side. Victory advancing left, holding wreath in each hand. Victory seated right, holding shield reading VO / TIS/ V Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / V / MVLT / X Wreath, star within Wreath, VOT / V / MVLT / X within. Wreath, VOTIS / V/ MVLTIS / X within

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Alexandria Ambianum Antioch Aquileia Arelate 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) Constantinopolis Cyzicus Heraclea Lugdunum Nicomedia 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) Roma Sirmium Siscia Thessalonica Treveri

AU Medallion
1) B2, O07, R06, T01, M03 Exe: SMANT Five Solidi weight

Reference(s)
RIC 71a (VIII, Antioch)

AU Solidus
2) 3) 4) B3, O07, R05, T14, M03 Exe: SMAN` B3, O07, R05, T14, M14 Exe: *TES* B3, O09, R05, T13, M10 Exe: SMN RIC 90 (VIII, Antioch) RIC 149 (VIII, Thessalonica) RIC 75 (VIII, Nicomedia)

AR Siliqua
5) 6) 7) B1, O07, R14, T28, M12 Exe: SIRM B3, O04, R10, T19, M13 Exe: SIS B3, O07, R14, T26 RIC 18 (VIII, Sirmium) RIC 299 (VIII, Siscia) RIC 237 (VIII, Constantinople)

AE2
8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) B3, O04, R01, T09, M12 Exe: `SIRM B3, O04, R01, T16, M13 Exe: II/`SIS B3, O04, R02, T06, M11 Exe: III/*/R` B3, O04, R02, T16, M12 Exe: [/`SIRM B3, O04, R02, T16, M12 Exe: S/`SIRM B3, O04, R02, T16, M12 Exe: `SIRM B3, O04, R02, T16, M12 Exe: A/`SIRM B3, O04, R02, T16, M13 Exe: I/`SISS behind bust A behind bust A behind bust behind bust behind bust A behind bust RIC 34 (VIII, Sirmium) RIC 345 (VIII, Siscia), L 1215 RIC 250 (VIII, Rome), L 661 RIC 51 (VIII, Sirmium), L 1608 RIC 46 (VIII, Sirmium) RIC 49 (VIII, Sirmium), L 1604 RIC 41 (VIII, Sirmium), L 1598 RIC 347 (VIII, Siscia), L 1217

506
16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) B3, O07, R02, T02, M14 Exe: /*/TS` B3, O07, R02, T16, M01 Exe: /ALE` B3, O07, R02, T16, M03 Exe: /AN` B3, O09, R02, T16, M06 Exe: B/CONS` B3, O09, R02, T16, M06 Exe: CONS` B3, O09, R02, T16, M06 Exe: /CONS` B3, O10, R01, T08, M14 Exe: /*TS`* behind bust RIC 74 (VIII, Alexandria) RIC 137 (VIII, Antioch) RIC 113 (VIII, Constantinople), L 2034 RIC 120 (VIII, Constantinople), L 2040 RIC 107 (VIII, Constantinople), L 2029 RIC 167 (VIII, Thessalonica), L 1667

AE3
23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) 41) 42) B3, O04, R01, T09, M13 Exe: `SIS B3, O04, R02, T16, M04 Exe: LXXII/S/AQ` B3, O04, R02, T16, M12 Exe: `SIRM B3, O04, R02, T16, M12 Exe: `SIRM B3, O04, R02, T16, M13 Exe: `SIS B3, O04, R02, T16, M13 Exe: `SISB3, O04, R02, T16, M13 Exe: I/`SISS B3, O04, R07, T04, M12 Exe: III/*SIRM B3, O04, R10, T20, M12 Exe: `SIRM B3, O06, R02, T16, M08 Exe: SMH` B3, O07, R02, T16, M11 Exe: R` B3, O07, R02, T16, M14 Exe: `/SMTS B3, O08, R02, T16, M07 Exe: SMK` B3, O09, R02, T16, M06 Exe: /CONS` B3, O09, R02, T16, M06 Exe: S/*/CONS` B3, O09, R02, T16, M06 Exe: CONS` B3, O09, R02, T16, M06 Exe: X/ /CONS` B3, O09, R02, T16, M07 Exe: SMK` B3, O09, R02, T16, M07 Exe: /SMK` B3, O09, R02, T16, M14 Exe: TS` A behind bust behind bust

Reference(s)
RIC 308 (VIII, Siscia) RIC 193 (VIII, Aquileia), L 924 RIC 36 (VIII, Sirmium) RIC 53 (VIII, Sirmium), L 1606 RIC 351 (VIII, Siscia), L 1219 RIC 354 (VIII, Siscia) RIC 347 (VIII, Siscia) RIC 24 (VIII, Sirmium) RIC 91 (VIII, Sirmium) RIC 284 (VIII, Rome) RIC 190 (VIII, Thessalonica), L 1682 RIC 107 (VIII, Cyzicus) RIC 122 (VIII, Constantinople), L 2044 RIC 117 (VIII, Constantinople), L 2038 RIC 120 (VIII, Constantinople) RIC 124 (VIII, Constantinople), L 2047 RIC 99 (VIII, Cyzicus) RIC 94 (VIII, Sirmium) RIC 181 (VIII, Thessalonica)

A behind bust A behind bust

Constantius Gallus Busts

Constantius Gallus Types

507
Julian was the son of Constantius Gallus and made Caesar by his own father's murderer, Constantius II. Constantius then assigned him an army and sent to suppress yet another German invasion. Upon the successful completion of this task, however, his own soldiers promoted him to the rank of Augustus. Chafing still Augustus 360-363 from his father's fate he was well-prepared to meet Constantius in battle. But the battle was never meant to be because Constantius died of an illness on the way there and was able to rule uncontested. Reversing the growing momentum of Christianity within the empire, Julian attempted to bring back the old pagan gods and its rituals. Again, it can be suspected that this was done as much out of personal conviction as to his efforts in countering the legacy of the Constantines who decimated his family. Taking his army to deal with a new round of Persian invasions, however, left him little time to dwell on eradicating Christianity. He died in 363 from a javelin wound fighting the Persians.

Julian II

Busts:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) Bare-headed, cuirassed bust right Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust left Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (pearls and rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed bust right, wearing consular robes, holding mappa and scepter Helmeted, diademed, cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and shield Helmeted, diademed, cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield

Julian IIs coins are very common among the bronzes. These can be found unrestored among uncleaned coin lots sold on Ebay and elsewhere though far fewer in number than the Constantines and family predating him or the Valentinian clan that would follow. For political and/or religious reasons he sought to stand apart from the legacy of Constantius II and, by extension, the Constantine house that had dominated the fourth century so far. Among his various edicts to this end he re-introduced a Sestertius-sized (but much lighter) coin with the old silver sheen begun with Claudius IIs Antoninianus that had largely fallen out of use by the 320s. Although its purchasing power in relation to the familiar AE3s remains to us a mystery they must have been a breath of fresh air to the public that had been forced to rely on ever smaller coins for the needs of commerce. But this AE1 was short-lived and the AE3 would continue to be the coin that, in the end, the public had to make do with like it or not. If anything, within another generation this public would be forced into the even smaller AE4 class of coins but thats another story. Government and the military still traded in silver and gold and here too Julian is fairly well represented. A siliqua may only cost a couple hundred dollars but the gold pieces will be significantly harder to find and be costlier.

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) DN CL IVLIANVS AVG DN CL IVLIANVS N C DN CL IVLIANVS NOB CAES DN FL CL IVLIANVS NOB CS DN FL CL IVLIANVS PF AVG DN FL CL IVLIANVS PP AVG DN IVLIANVS NOB C DN IVLIANVS NOB CAES DN IVLIANVS NOB CAESAR DN IVLIANVS PF AVG FL CL IVLIANVS AVG FL CL IVLIANVS NOB CAES FL CL IVLIANVS PER AVG FL CL IVLIANVS PERP AVG FL CL IVLIANVS PF AVG FL CL IVLIANVS PF P AVG FL CL IVLIANVS PP AVG IVLIANVS AVG IVLIANVS CAES

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) DN IVLIANVS CAES DN IVLIANVS NOB CAES FEL TEMP REPARATIO FIDES EXERCITVVM GLORIA REIPVBLICAE GLORIA ROMANORVM MONETA AVG REPARATIO GALLIARVM SECVRITAS REIPVB SPES REIPVBLICE VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM VICTORIA DD NN AVG VICTORIA IVLIANI VICTORIA PERPETV VICTORIA ROMANOR VICTORIA ROMANORVM VICTORIA RONANORVM VICTORIAE D N AVG VICTORIAE DD NN AVGG VIRTVS AVG N VIRTVS CAESARIS VIRTVS EXERC GALL VIRTVS EXERCITVM VIRTVS EXERCITVS VIRTVS EXERCITVS ROMANI VIRTVS EXERCITVS ROMANORVM No legend

508
Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) Bull standing right, two stars above Bull standing right, two stars above; eagle with wreath to right Julian II advancing right, dragging captive and holding trophy. Julian II standing left, holding globe and spear Julian II standing left, holding spear and Victory on globe Julian II standing under arch, facing, holding spear and globe, being crowned with wreath by Victory. Roma seated, facing, holding scepter and shield with star within together with Constantinopolis to right, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter Roma seated, facing, holding scepter and shield with wreath and star within together with Constantinopolis to right, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter Roma seated, facing, holding scepter and wreath reading VO / TIS / V together with Constantinopolis to right, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter Roma seated, facing, holding scepter and wreath reading VOT / XXX / MVLT / XXXX together with Constantinopolis to right, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter Soldier standing left, spearing falling horseman Spes standing left, holding globe and scepter Standards (3) Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / V; genius to lower right also holding shield. Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / X; genius to lower right also holding shield. Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / XX; genius to lower right also holding shield. Victory seated right, holding shield with star; genius to lower right also supporting shield. Victory standing right, stepping on globe, holding shield reading VOT / V / MVLT / X; genius to lower right also supporting shield. Virtus standing right, holding head of kneeling captive and trophy. Virtus standing right, holding head of kneeling captive and trophy; eagle with wreath to right. Virtus standing right, holding spear and resting hand on shield. Wreath, star within Wreath, VO / TIS / V within Wreath, VOT / V / MVLT / X within Wreath, VOT / X / MVLT / XX within Wreath, VOTIS / V / MVLTIS / X within Wreath, VOTIS / X / MVLT / XX within Wreath, VOTIS / X / MVLTIS / XX within

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Alexandria Antioch Aquileia Arelate Constantinopolis 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) Cyzicus Heraclea Lugdunum Nicomedia Roma 11) 12) 13) 14) Sirmium Siscia Thessalonica Treveri

AU Solidus
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) B3, O08, R05, T07, M02 Exe: SMAN` B3, O08, R05, T07, M02 Exe: SMAN` B5, O15, R26, T03, M02 Exe: ANT` B5, O17, R26, T03, M05 Exe: CONS` B5, O17, R26, T03, M10 Exe: R` B5, O17, R26, T03, M11 Exe: *SIRM=

Reference(s)
RIC 171 (VIII, Antioch) RIC 167 (VIII, Antioch) RIC 201 (VIII, Antioch) RIC 157 (VIII, Constantinople) RIC 323 (VIII, Rome) RIC 95 (VIII, Sirmium)

AU Scripulum
7) B5, O17, R17, T17, M02 Exe: ANT RIC 207 (VIII, Antioch)

AR Siliqua
8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) B3, O08, R27, T23, M02 Exe: ANT B3, O08, R27, T27, M04 Exe: `CON B5, O01, R27, T27, M14 Exe: TR B5, O05, R27, T26, M04 Exe: `CONST B5, O05, R27, T26, M04 Exe: `CONST B5, O05, R27, T26, M05 Exe: CP` B5, O05, R27, T26, M08 Exe: `LVG B5, O10, R27, T27, M04 Exe: `CON B5, O15, R27, T27, M11 Exe: SIRM B5, O17, R12, T08, M08 Exe: LVG B6, O15, R27, T25, M08 Exe: LVG RIC 187 (VIII, Antioch) RIC 264 (VIII, Arles) RIC 364 (VIII, Trier) RIC 309 (VIII, Arles) RIC 312 (VIII, Arles) RIC 159 (VIII, Constantinople) RIC 234 (VIII, Lyons) RIC 295 (VIII, Arles) RIC 215a (VIII, Lyons) RIC 218 (VIII, Lyons)

AE1
19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) B5, O05, R09, T01, M02 Exe: ANT` B5, O05, R09, T01, M03 Exe: AQVIL` B5, O05, R09, T01, M05 Exe: CONSP` B5, O05, R09, T01, M05 Exe: CONSP` B5, O05, R09, T01, M06 Exe: CVZ` B5, O05, R09, T01, M07 Exe: HERACL` over B5, O05, R09, T01, M08 Exe: LVGDOFF` B5, O05, R09, T01, M09 Exe: NIK` B5, O05, R09, T01, M09 Exe: NIK` B5, O05, R09, T01, M11 Exe: *`SIRM= B5, O05, R09, T01, M11 Exe: *`SIRM RIC 216 (VIII, Antioch), L 2640 RIC 243 (VIII, Aquileia) RIC 162 (VIII, Constantinople), L 2058 RIC 163 (VIII, Constantinople), L 2059 RIC 127 (VIII, Cyzicus), L 2058 RIC 104 (VIII, Sirmium), L 1910 RIC 236 (VIII, Lyons) RIC 121 (VIII, Nicomedia), L 2319 RIC 122 (VIII, Nicomedia) RIC 106 (VIII, Sirmium), L 1621 RIC 107 (VIII, Sirmium), L 1622

509
30) 31) 32) 33) 34) B5, O05, R09, T01, M11 Exe: `SIRM= B5, O05, R09, T01, M12 Exe: `SIS B5, O05, R09, T01, M12 Exe: `SISC B5, O05, R09, T01, M12 Exe: `SISC= B5, O05, R09, T01, M13 Exe: TES` RIC 105 (VIII, Sirmium) RIC 411 (VIII, Siscia) RIC 418 (VIII, Siscia), L 1261 RIC 419 (VIII, Siscia) RIC 225 (VIII, Thessalonica), L 1696

AE3
35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) 41) 42) 43) 44) 45) 46) 47) 48) 49) 50) 51) 52) 53) B3, O07, R03, T11, M05 Exe: M/CONS` B3, O07, R03, T11, M11 Exe: `SIRM B3, O07, R03, T11, M11 Exe: M/`SIRM B3, O07, R03, T11, M12 Exe: `SIS B3, O07, R03, T11, M12 Exe: M/`SISB5, O05, R10, T04, M05 Exe: */CON` B5, O05, R27, T26, M04 Exe: `CONST B9, O05, R27, T26, M01 Exe: ALE` B9, O05, R27, T26, M02 Exe: SMANT` B9, O05, R27, T26, M05 Exe: CONSP` B9, O05, R27, T26, M05 Exe: CONSP` B9, O05, R27, T26, M06 Exe: SMK` B9, O05, R27, T26, M07 Exe: HERACL` B9, O05, R27, T26, M07 Exe: HERACL` B9, O05, R27, T26, M09 Exe: NIK` B9, O05, R27, T26, M09 Exe: SMN` B9, O05, R27, T26, M10 Exe: VRBROM` B9, O05, R27, T26, M11 Exe: `SIRM B9, O05, R27, T26, M13 Exe: TES`

Reference(s)
RIC 140 (VIII, Constantinople) RIC 70 (VIII, Sirmium) RIC 74 (VIII, Sirmium), L 1611 RIC 365 (VIII, Siscia), L 1232 RIC 371 (VIII, Siscia), L 1235 RIC 160 (VIII, Constantinople) RIC 325 (VIII, Arles) RIC 90 (VIII, Alexandria), L 2853 RIC 219 (VIII, Antioch), L 2643 RIC 166 (VIII, Constantinople) RIC 167 (VIII, Constantinople) RIC 131 (VIII, Cyzicus) RIC 105 (VIII, Heraclea) RIC 106 (VIII, Heraclea) RIC 123 (VIII, Nicomedia) RIC 122a (VIII, Nicomedia) RIC 329 (VIII, Rome), L 695 RIC 108 (VIII, Sirmium) RIC 227 (VIII, Thessalonica), L 1697

AE4
54) B3, O04, R10, T04, M06 Exe: SMK` RIC 118 (VIII, Cyzicus)

Julian II Busts

Julian II Types

510
Jovian succeeded Julian II as emperor when the latter died of battlefield wounds. The general realized that their army was on the brink of falling apart under the pressures of renewed attacks by the Persians who were deep within their own territory. Upon this analysis as well as the fact that supply columns could never hope Augustus 363-364 to reach them effectively, he settled a truce with the Persians giving over all the territory the Romans had just won under Julian. Jovian died on the return from this episode as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Jovian

Busts:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Diademed (laurels and rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (laurels and rosettes), draped bust right, with cornucopia on left shoulder Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust left Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed bust right, wearing consular robes, holding globe and scepter with eagle atop

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) DN IOVIANVS PEP AVG DN IOVIANVS PERP AVG DN IOVIANVS PF AVG DN IOVIANVS PF AVG COS DN IOVIANVS PF P AVG DN IOVIANVS PF PERP AVG DN IOVIANVS PF PP AVG

Comparable in scarcity to the coins of Julian II, Jovian continues issuing money with little substantial change in the patterns set by his predecessor. However, hes not long for this world and the Valentinian dynasty is about to begin which would introduce an altogether new flavor of coinage. Silver and gold coins can be found with reasonable frequency; the Siliqua being the most commonly seen denomination among the precious metals.

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) ADVENTVS AVGVSTI GAVDIVM ROMANORVM GLORIA ROMANORVM RESTITVTOR REIP SECORITAS REIPVBLICAE SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE SECVRITAS REIPVBLICE VICTORI AVGVS VICTORIA AVGVSTI VICTORIA ROMANORVM VOTA PVBLICA VRBS ROMA No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) Jovian standing under arch, facing, holding spear and globe Jovian standing, facing, holding labarum and globe; seated captive to left. Jovian standing, facing, holding labarum and Victory on globe. Roma and Constantinopolis seated, facing, holding together wreath reading VOT / V Roma and Constantinopolis seated, facing, holding together wreath reading VOT / V / MVL / X Roma and Constantinopolis seated, facing, holding together wreath reading VOT / V / MVLT / X Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / V / MVL / X; Genius to right also holding shield. Wreath, VOT / V / MVL / X within Wreath, VOT / V / MVLT / X within. Wreath, VOT / V within Wreath, VOT / X / MVLT / XX within Wreath, VOTIS / V / MVLT / X within

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Alexandria Antioch Aquileia Arelate Constantinopolis 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) Cyzicus Heraclea Lugdunum Nicomedia Roma 11) 12) 13) Sirmium Siscia Thessalonica

AU Solidus
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) B4, O1, R05, T05, M02 Exe: ANT` B4, O1, R06, T05, M02 Exe: ANT` B4, O3, R06, T02, M11 Exe: SIRM B4, O3, R06, T02, M13 Exe: TES B4, O5, R06, T05, M02 Exe: ANT` B4, O5, R06, T06, M09 Exe: SMN`

Reference(s)
RIC 223 (VIII, Antioch) RIC 110 (VIII, Sirmium) RIC 229 (VIII, Thessalonica) RIC 224 (VIII, Antioch) RIC 126 (VIII, Nicomedia)

511
7) 8) 9) B4, O5, R07, T06, M11 Exe: SIRM B4, O7, R07, T06, M13 Exe: SMTES B5, O6, R06, T06, M05 Exe: CONS` RIC 115 (VIII, Sirmium) RIC 233 (VIII, Thessalonica) RIC 464 (VIII, Constantinople)

AR Siliqua
10) 11) 12) 13) 14) B4, O3, R13, T09, M02 Exe: ANT B4, O3, R13, T09, M04 Exe: `CONST B4, O3, R13, T09, M05 Exe: CP` B4, O3, R13, T09, M09 Exe: SMN B4, O3, R13, T11, M04 Exe: `CONST

Reference(s)
RIC 227 (VIII, Antioch) RIC 329 (VIII, Arles) RIC 173 (VIII, Constantinople) RIC 127 (VIII, Nicomedia) RIC 330 (VIII, Arles)

AE1
15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) B1, O2, R10, T03, M13 Exe: TES` B1, O3, R10, T03, M02 Exe: ANT` B1, O7, R10, T03, M13 Exe: TES` B1, O7, R10, T03, M13 Exe: TES` B4, O7, R10, T03, M13 Exe: TES` B4, O7, R10, T03, M13 Exe: TES` B5, O7, R10, T03, M13 Exe: TES` RIC 228 (VIII, Antioch), L 2645 RIC 238 (VIII, Thessalonica) RIC 235 (VIII, Thessalonica) RIC 236 (VIII, Thessalonica) RIC 234 (VIII, Thessalonica), L 1698 RIC 237 (VIII, Thessalonica), L 1700

AE3
22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) B3, O3, R13, T09, M05 Exe: CONSP` B3, O3, R13, T09, M07 Exe: HERAC` B3, O3, R13, T09, M07 Exe: HERAC` B3, O3, R13, T09, M12 Exe: `SISC B3, O3, R13, T10, M01 Exe: ALE` B3, O3, R13, T10, M05 Exe: CONSPA B3, O3, R13, T10, M06 Exe: SMK` B3, O3, R13, T10, M07 Exe: HERAC` B3, O3, R13, T10, M07 Exe: HERAC` B3, O3, R13, T10, M12 Exe: `SISC B4, O3, R13, T08, M02 Exe: ANT` B4, O3, R13, T09, M03 Exe: AQVIL` B4, O3, R13, T09, M09 Exe: NIK` B4, O3, R13, T09, M11 Exe: `SIRM B4, O5, R13, T08, M02 Exe: ANT` B4, O7, R13, T09, M13 Exe: TES` B5, O3, R13, T09, M11 Exe: `SIRM RIC 179 (VIII, Constantinople), L 2064 RIC 111 (VIII, Heraclea), L 1914 RIC 110 (VIII, Heraclea), L 1913 RIC 426 (VIII, Siscia), L 1267 RIC 92 (VIII, Alexandria), L 2855 RIC 178 (VIII, Constantinople), L 2063 RIC 132 (VIII, Cyzicus), L 2513 RIC 109 (VIII, Heraclea) RIC 108 (VIII, Heraclea), L 1912 RIC 424 (VIII, Siscia) RIC 230 (VIII, Antioch), L 2647 RIC 247 (VIII, Aquileia), L 960 RIC 128 (VIII, Nicomedia) RIC 118 (VIII, Sirmium), L 1623 RIC 239 (VIII, Thessalonica), L 1699 RIC 119 (VIII, Sirmium), L 1624

Jovian Busts

Jovian Types

512
Valentinian became emperor after Jovian's death. He was a capable general and performed admirably on behalf of the empire given the advanced state of decay it was currently under. To start things off he named his brother Valens co-emperor and was handed over the east half of the empire. A couple of years later he Augustus 364-375 named his young son Gratian co-ruler of the West as well in case anything happened while he was campaigning against the everpresent barbarians. That something happened in 375 when he suffered a stroke after becoming angry at a group of barbarian peacemakers (presumably for offering unfavorable terms).

Valentinian I

Busts:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust left Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed bust left, wearing imperial mantle, holding mappa and scepter Diademed bust left, wearing imperial mantle, raising hand and holding scepter Diademed, cuirassed bust right Helmeted, diademed, cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) DN VALENTINIANS PF AVG DN VALENTINIANVS PF AVG VALENTINIANVS AVG

More than any other emperor of this or the following century, the coins of Valentinian I (along with those of his brother Valens) are the most commonly available and affordable. While Constantine I and his family were prolific issuers of low denomination bronzes their precious metal coinage is much scarcer. With Valentinian, and again Valens, Solidi and Siliquae are quite readily available. In particular, their gold coins are perhaps the easiest to locate except for some late fifth century eastern issues. If surviving quantity is plentiful enough, the same cannot be said for richness in variety of types. Continuing the trend begun decades before, legends and bust types become more standardized and the portraiture indistinct. The vast majority of bronzes will be of just two types: Gloria Romanorum and Securitas Reipublicae both of which were clearly of a militarily propagandist nature. If this bit of numismatic ennui is disappointing it is at least compensated by a wonderfully complex mintmarking system that spanned his entire reign. It is quite possibly the most elaborate mintmark system ever devised for coins and may present the collector with the challenge of completing a set of all known varieties (referred to as emissions); a difficult proposition given that there are dozens of different combinations!

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) CONCORDIA AVGGG FELIX ADVENTVS AVG M FELIX ADVENTVS AVGGG GLORIA REIPVBLICAE GLORIA ROMANORVM MONETA AVGG PAX PERPETVA PERPETVITAS IMPERII RESTITVTOR REIP RESTITVTOR REIPVBLICAE SALVS REIP SALVS REIPVBLICAE SECVRITAS REIP SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE SPES R P TRIVMFATOR GENT BARB VICTORES AVGVSTI VICTORIA AVG VICTORIA AVGG VICTORIA AVGVSTE VICTORIA AVGVSTI N VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM VICTORIA DD NN AVG VICTORIA DN AVGVSTI VICTORIAE DN AVG VICTORIAS AVGVSTORVM VIRTVS EXERCITVS VIRTVS EXSERCITI VIRTVS ROMANI EXERCITVS VIRTVS ROMANORVM VOTA PVBLICA VRBS ROMA No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) City gate with (2) turrets, letter S above. Constantinopolis seated left, stepping on galley prow, holding Victory on globe and scepter. Monetae (3) standing, facing, holding scale and cornucopia. Roma and Constantinopolis seated, facing, holding scepter and together shield reading VOT / X / MVL / XX Roma and Constantinopolis seated, facing, holding scepter and together shield reading VOT / V / MVL / X Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe and spear. Roma seated, facing, holding Victory on globe and cornucopia next to Constantinopolis, holding Victory on globe and scepter. Standards (4) Valentinian I advancing right, dragging captive and holding labarum Valentinian I and Valens seated, facing, each holding globe and scepter; shield reading VOT / V / MVL / X placed on genius in between them. Valentinian I and Valens seated, facing, each holding mappa and scepter. Valentinian I and Valens seated, facing, each holding mappa and scepter; seated captive on either side. Valentinian I and Valens seated, facing, each holding mappa and together globe; Victory above and between them. Valentinian I and Valens seated, facing, holding together globe; in between, Victory above and palm below. Valentinian I and Valens seated, facing, holding together globe; Victory hovering above, crowning them both. Valentinian I and Valens standing under arch, facing, each holding globe and scepter.

513
17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) 41) 42) 43) 44) 45) 46) 47) 48) 49) 50) 51) 52) 53) 54) 55) Valentinian I and Valens standing, facing, each holding globe and labarum. Valentinian I and Valens standing, facing, each holding labarum and globe. Valentinian I and Valens standing, facing, each holding labarum and together a Victory on globe crowning both. Valentinian I and Valens standing, facing, each holding scepter and together a Victory on globe crowning both. Valentinian I riding horse left, raising hand. Valentinian I riding oncoming quadriga, dropping coins and holding Victory on globe Valentinian I standing right, receiving shield from Hand of God above. Valentinian I standing under arch, facing, holding spear and globe. Valentinian I standing, facing, holding labarum and globe; Victory to right crowning him and seated captive to left. Valentinian I standing, facing, holding labarum and resting hand on shield. Valentinian I standing, facing, holding labarum and Victory on globe. Valentinian I standing, facing, holding labarum and Victory on globe; kneeling captive to left. Valentinian I standing, facing, holding labarum and Victory on globe; eagle with wreath in beak to lower right. Valentinian I standing, facing, holding spear and resting hand on shield Valentinian I standing, facing, holding Victory on globe and labarum; captive on either side. Valentinian I standing, facing, stepping on captive, holding labarum and Victory on globe. Victories (2) standing, facing each other, together holding shield reading VOT / V Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm Victory advancing right, dragging captive and holding trophy. Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / V / MVL / X Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / V / MVL / X; Genius to lower right also holding shield. Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / V / MVLT / X; Genius to lower right also holding shield Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / V; Genius to lower right also holding shield. Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / X / MVL / XX Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XX Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / X / VOT / XV Victory standing left, stepping on captive, holding wreath and trophy. Victory standing right, stepping on globe, holding shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XV on column. Victory standing, facing, holding wreath and shield on column reading VOT / X / MVLT / XX; captive on either side. Victory standing, facing, holding wreath in each hand. Wreath, VOT / V within. Wreath, VOT / V / MVL / X within Wreath, VOT / V / MVLT / X within Wreath, VOT / VX / MVLT / XX within Wreath, VOT / X / MVLT / XV within. Wreath, VOT / X / MVLT / XX within. Wreath, VOTIS / V / MVLTIS / X within Wreath, VOTIS / X / MVLTIS / XV within Wreath, VOTIS / XV / MVLTIS / XX within

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Alexandria Antioch Aquileia Arelate Constantinopolis 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) Cyzicus Heraclea Lugdunum Mediolanum Nicomedia 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) Roma Sirmium Siscia Thessalonica Treveri

AU Solidus
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) B2, O2, R10, T27, M02 Exe: ANT` B2, O2, R10, T27, M04 Exe: KONST B2, O2, R10, T27, M08 Exe: SMLVG B2, O2, R10, T27, M10 Exe: SMN` B2, O2, R10, T27, M11 Exe: R` B2, O2, R19, T14, M15 Exe: TROB B2, O2, R30, T20, M05 Exe: CONS B3, O2, R10, T27, M02 Exe: ANT` B3, O2, R19, T14, M15 Exe: TROB` B3, O2, R22, T41, M05 Exe: /CONOB B3, O2, R22, T42, M02 Exe: /ANOB` B4, O2, R11, T32, M13 Exe: */SMSISC B4, O2, R31, T11, M09 Exe: MED B4, O2, R31, T12, M05 Exe: *CONS= B7, O2, R17, T15, M15 Exe: TROB

Reference(s)
RIC 2a (IX, Antiochia) RIC 1a (IX, Arelate) RIC 1a (IX, Lugdunum) RIC 2a (IX, Nicomedia) RIC 11 (IX, Roma) RIC 17a (IX, Treveri) RIC 5a (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 2b (IX, Antiochia) RIC 17b (IX, Treveri) RIC 22b (IX, Antiochia) RIC 1a (IX, Siscia) RIC 3a (IX, Mediolanum) RIC 29a (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 16b (IX, Treveri)

AU 1 Scripulum
16) B2, O2, R07, T37, M14 Exe: TES RIC 15 (IX, Thessalonica)

AR Miliarense
17) 18) 19) B2, O2, R22, T44, M11 Exe: R` B2, O2, R27, T26, M13 Exe: SISC` B6, O2, R26, T33, M05 Exe: CONSP` RIC 8a corrected (IX, Roma) RIC 10a (IX, Siscia) RIC 10 (IX, Constantinopolis)

AR Siliqua
20) 21) 22) 23) B2, O2, R32, T06, M11 Exe: R` B2, O2, R32, T06, M15 Exe: TRP` B2, O2, R33, T47, M05 Exe: CP` B2, O2, R33, T50, M05 Exe: CS RIC 11a (IX, Roma) RIC 27a (IX, Treveri) RIC 13a (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 38a (IX, Constantinopolis)

514
24) B2, O2, R33, T52, M05 Exe: CS= RIC 37a (IX, Constantinopolis)

AE1
25) 26) 27) B2, O2, R10, T27, M05 Exe: CONSP` B2, O2, R10, T27, M07 Exe: SMH` B2, O2, R10, T27, M10 Exe: SMN`

Reference(s)
RIC 15 (IX, Constantinopolis), L 2065 RIC 1a (IX, Heraclea), L 1915 L 2321

AE3
28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) 41) 42) 43) 44) 45) 46) 47) 48) 49) 50) 51) 52) 53) 54) 55) 56) 57) 58) 59) 60) 61) 62) 63) 64) 65) 66) 67) 68) 69) 70) 71) 72) 73) 74) 75) 76) 77) 78) 79) 80) 81) 82) 83) B2, O2, R05, T09, M03 Exe: SMAQ` B2, O2, R05, T09, M07 Exe: SMH` B2, O2, R05, T09, M10 Exe: SMN` B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: * over A/D`SISC B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: */`SISC B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: `SISC B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: D/*`SISC B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: D`SISC B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: F/A over K/`SISCV B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: F/D over K/`SISC_ B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: F/D over P/`SISC_ B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: M over /* over R over O/`SISC B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: M/* over F/`SISC B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: M/* over P/`SISC B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: Q/* over K/`SISCV B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: Q/A over !/`SISCV B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: S over /C over !/`SISC_ B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: S/* over F/`SISC B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: S/D/`SISC B2, O2, R05, T09, M14 Exe: * over `/TES B2, O2, R05, T09, M14 Exe: */* over `/TES B2, O2, R05, T09, M14 Exe: */ over D/TES B2, O2, R05, T09, M14 Exe: TES` B2, O2, R05, T09, M14 Exe: V/* over `/TES B2, O2, R09, T27, M05 Exe: CONSP` B2, O2, R09, T27, M06 Exe: SMK` B2, O2, R09, T27, M07 Exe: SMH` B2, O2, R09, T27, M12 Exe: `SIRM B2, O2, R09, T27, M14 Exe: TES` B2, O2, R14, T34, M03 Exe: SMAQ` B2, O2, R14, T34, M04 Exe: `CONST B2, O2, R14, T34, M04 Exe: SMK` B2, O2, R14, T34, M05 Exe: /CONS` B2, O2, R14, T34, M05 Exe: CONSP` B2, O2, R14, T34, M11 Exe: R` Officina is spelled out in Latin; PRIMA, SECVNDA, TERTIA or QVARTA B2, O2, R14, T34, M11 Exe: SM\R` B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: * over D/S/`SISC B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: * over F/M/`SISC B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: * over K/Q/`SISCV B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: K over K/Q/`SISCV B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: * over P/M/`SISC B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: * over R over O/M/`SISC B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: `SISC B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: A`SISC B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: C over !/S over /`SISCB2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: D over P/F/`SISC_ B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: D`SISC B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: D/*`SISC B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: D/S/`SISC B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: K over P/Q/`SISCV B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: R over K/F/`SISC_ B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: R over K/F/`SISCS B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: R over !/F/`SISCS B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: R over K/S over /`SISCK B2, O2, R14, T34, M14 Exe: TES` B2, O2, R33, T49, M12 Exe: `SIRM RIC 11a.15 (IX, Aquileia), L 1023 RIC 3a (IX, Heraclea), L 1919 RIC 9a (IX, Nicomedia), L 2334 RIC 5a.7 (IX, Siscia), L 1294 RIC 5a.9 (IX, Siscia) RIC 5a.2 (IX, Siscia), L 1275 RIC 14a.11 (IX, Siscia), L 1305 RIC 5a.4 (IX, Siscia), L 1290 RIC 14a.33 (IX, Siscia), L 1390 RIC 14a.43 (IX, Siscia), L 1478 RIC 14a.44a (IX, Siscia) RIC 14a.21 (IX, Siscia), L 1349 RIC 14a.16 (IX, Siscia), L 1327 RIC 14a.17 (IX, Siscia), L 1331 RIC 14a.37 (IX, Siscia) RIC 14a.30 (IX, Siscia), L 1384 RIC 14a.38 (IX, Siscia), L 1450 RIC 14a.15 (IX, Siscia), L 1323 RIC 14a.13 (IX, Siscia), L 1315 RIC 26a (IX, Thessalonica), L 1744 RIC 16a.17 (IX, Thessalonica), L 1749 RIC 16a.1 (IX, Thessalonica), L 1704 RIC 16a.38 (IX, Thessalonica), L 1803 RIC 20a.1 (IX, Constantinopolis), L 2066 RIC 10a (IX, Cyzicus), L 2515 RIC 4a (IX, Heraclea), L 1916 RIC 6a (IX, Sirmium), L 1627 RIC 17a (IX, Thessalonica), L 1702 RIC 11a.16 (IX, Aquileia), L 1015 RIC 7a.1 (IX, Arelate), L 477 RIC 11a (IX, Cyzicus), L 2529 RIC 42a.8 (IX, Constantinopolis), L 2109 RIC 21a (IX, Constantinopolis), L 2071 RIC 23 (IX, Roma), L 712 RIC 24a.10 (IX, Roma), L 730 RIC 15a.14 (IX, Siscia), L 1321 RIC 15a.16 (IX, Siscia) RIC 15a.27 (IX, Siscia), L 1370 RIC 15a.32 (IX, Siscia), L 1389 RIC 15a.17 (IX, Siscia) RIC 15a.22 (IX, Siscia) RIC 7a.2 (IX, Siscia), L 1277 RIC 7a.1 (IX, Siscia), L 1271 RIC 15a.38 (IX, Siscia) RIC 15a.44 (IX, Siscia), L 1489 RIC 7a.1 (IX, Siscia), L 1292 RIC 15a.11 (IX, Siscia), L 1305 RIC 15a.13 (IX, Siscia), L 1317 RIC 15a.29 (IX, Siscia) RIC 15a.35 (IX, Siscia), L 1424 RIC 15a.35 (IX, Siscia), L 1426 RIC 15a.37 (IX, Siscia), L 1444 RIC 15a.36 (IX, Siscia), L 1432 RIC 18a.1 (IX, Thessalonica), L 1706 RIC 8 (IX, Sirmium), L 1629

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Valentinian I Busts

Valentinian I Types

516
Valens was the younger brother of Valentinian who made him coemperor soon after his own accession. He then sent Valens off to take care of the eastern portion of the empire. Making Constantinople his capital, he dealt with the Persian factor as best he could which wasn't all that great and saw his borders shrink as Augustus 364-378 a consequence. His ineptitude showed most compellingly at the battle of Adrianople in 378. Resettled barbarians had been allowed within the nominal borders of the empire but were allowed to keep their arms. As the barbarians became squeezed from the double whammy of external tribes pushing against their lands and the systematic and extraofficial hard-line policies of lower Roman government officials they became aggressive once more and aimed to push southward.

Valens

Near the city of Adrianople they gathered with the intention of making war and Valens prepared to meet them in battle. He sent for reinforcements from Gratian but before these could arrive he figured in a bout of short-sighted arrogance that he could go at it alone and claim the glory all to himself afterward. On an exceedingly poorly executed attack plan the Romans attacked the barbarians. In what apparently was meant to be a surprise attack, he rushed the barbarians before getting his soldiers into formation and before they had eaten. It was also a very hot and dusty day making their attack that much more energy-sapping. The barbarians watched as their counterparts fumbled and figured out their strategy. Their general sent his cavalry in an outflanking maneuver and managed to encircle Valens's infantry and subsequently slaughtered most. Valens himself perished in battle and the loss of the army along with the demoralizing effect to the rest of the military was another step in the inexorable fall of the empire almost one hundred years later. Busts:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust left Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust left Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed bust left, wearing imperial mantle, holding mappa and scepter Diademed bust left, wearing imperial mantle, raising hand and holding scepter Helmeted, cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) DN VALENS AVG DN VALENS MAX AVGVSTVS DN VALENS PER AVG DN AVLENS PF AVG DN VALENS PER F AVG DN VALENS PF AVG IMP CE VALENS PF AVG VALENS AVGVS

As was just mentioned with Valentinian, his brother Valens shares an almost identical run of issues. Neither one is represented more than the other while the two reigned though Valens, outliving Valentinian for three years or so, has a longer time in which to strike coins. Still, seeing that both are so common to begin wth rarity is not a concern. Although quite rare, both brothers were to strike the last hefty bronze coins, the AE1 class, the empire would see until Anastasius reform of 498 kicks off the Byzantine coinage period. From here onwards the bronzes will only get smaller and increasingly shoddier.

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) CONCORDIA AVGGG DN VALENS VICTOR SEMPER FELICITAS ROMANORVM FELIX ADVENTVS AVG N FELIX ADVENTVS AVGGG GLORIA REIPVBLICAE GLORIA MORANORVM GLORIA ROMANORVM MONETA AVGG MONETA AVGGG PAX PERPETVA PIETAS DDD NNN AVGVSTORVM RESTITVTOR REIP RESTITVTOR REIPVBLICAE SALVS REIP SALVS REIPVBLICAE SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) SPES RP TRIVMFATOR GENT BARB VICT DD NN AVGG VICTORES AVGVSTI VICTORIA AVG VICTORIA AVGG VICTORIA AVGGG VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM VICTORIA DD NN AVG VICTORIA DN AVG VICTORIA DN AVGVSTI VIRTVS EXERCITVS VIRTVS ROMANORVM VOTA PVBLICA VRBS ROMA No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) City gate with (2) turrets; S above. Monetae (3) standing, facing, each holding scale and cornucopia. Roma and Constantinopolis seated, facing, each holding scepter and together holding shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XV Roma and Constantinopolis seated, facing, each holding scepter and together holding shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XX Roma and Constantinopolis seated, facing, each holding scepter and together holding shield reading VOT / V / MVLT / X Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and spear

517
7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) 41) 42) 43) 44) 45) 46) 47) 48) 49) 50) 51) 52) 53) 54) 55) 56) Roma seated left on throne, holding Victory on globe and spear Standards (3) Standards (4) Valens advancing right, dragging captive and holding labarum. Valens advancing right, dragging captive and holding standard. Valens and Valentinian I seated, facing, each holding a globe and scepter; shield on Genius between them reading VOT / V / MVL / X. Valens and Valentinian I seated, facing, each holding a mappa and scepter; two hunched captives below. Valens and Valentinian I seated, facing, each holding a mappa. Valens and Valentinian I seated, facing, each raising hand and holding globe Valens and Valentinian I seated, facing, holding together globe; Victory above and palm between them. Valens and Valentinian I standing under arch, facing, each holding a scepter and globe. Valens riding horse left, raising hand Valens standing under arch, facing, holding spear and globe. Valens standing, facing, holding labarum and globe; kneeling captive to left. Valens standing, facing, holding labarum and resting hand on shield Valens standing, facing, holding labarum and Victory on globe. Valens standing, facing, holding mappa and scepter. Valens standing, facing, holding spear and resting hand on shield. Valens standing, facing, holding standard and Victory on globe. Valens standing, facing, holding Victory on globe and labarum. Valens standing, facing, stepping on captive, holding labarum and Victory on globe Valens, Gratian and Valentinian II standing, facing, each holding scepter. Victories (2) standing, facing each other, holding together shield reading VOT / V Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. Victory advancing right, dragging captive and holding trophy. Victory seated right, holding shield on column reading VOT / V / MVL / X Victory seated right, holding shield on column reading VOT / X / MVLT / XX Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / V / MVLT / X; Genius to right also holding shield. Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / V; Genius to right also holding shield. Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / X / MVL / XX Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XX; Genius to right also holding shield. Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / XV / MVLT / XXV Victory standing left, stepping on captive, holding wreath and trophy. Victory standing right, stepping on globe, holding shield on column reading VOT / V / MVLT / X Victory standing right, stepping on globe, holding shield on column reading VOT / X / MVLT / XV Victory standing right, stepping on globe, holding shield on column reading VOT / V / MVLTIS / X Victory standing, facing, holding wreath in each hand Wreath, VOT / V / MVLT / X within. Wreath, VOT / V / MVLTIS / X within Wreath, VOT / V within Wreath, VOT / VX / MVLT / XX within Wreath, VOT / X / MVL / XX within Wreath, VOT / X / MVLT / XV within. Wreath, VOT / X / MVLT / XX within. Wreath, VOT / XV / MVLT / XX within. Wreath, VOT / XX / MVLT / XXX within Wreath, VOTIS / V / MVLTIS / X within Wreath, VOTIS / X / MVLTIS / XV within Wreath, VOTIS / X / MVLTIS / XX within Wreath, VOTIS / XV / MVLTIS / XX within

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Alexandria Antioch Aquileia Arelate Constantinopolis 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) Cyzicus Heraclea Lugdunum Mediolanum Nicomedia 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) Roma Sirmium Siscia Thessalonica Treveri

AU Solidus
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) B2, O5, R14, T22, M02 Exe: /ANT` B2, O5, R14, T22, M02 Exe: ANT` B2, O6, R14, T22, M05 Exe: CONS= B2, O6, R14, T22, M10 Exe: SMN` B2, O6, R23, T16, M15 Exe: TROB` B2, O6, R25, T37, M02 Exe: AN B4, O5, R25, T38, M02 Exe: /ANOB` B4, O6, R14, T22, M05 Exe: *CONS= B4, O6, R23, T16, M15 Exe: TROB B5, O6, R08, T04, M02 Exe: ANOB` B5, O6, R15, T27, M14 Exe: * over */SMTES` B5, O6, R31, T13, M10 Exe: S/I/MN

Reference(s)
RIC 2c (IX, Antiochia) RIC 2d.19 (IX, Antiochia) RIC 3d (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 2b (IX, Nicomedia) RIC 39b (IX, Treveri) RIC 24b (IX, Antiochia) RIC 25b (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 17 (IX, Treveri) RIC 16d (IX, Antiochia) RIC 3b (IX, Thessalonica) RIC 16b.5 (IX, Nicomedia)

AU Scripulum
13) 14) B2, O6, R25, T36, M02 Exe: /ANOB` B2, O6, R25, T38, M02 Exe: ANT RIC 26.2 (IX, Antiochia)

AR Miliarense
15) 16) 17) B2, O6, R29, T21, M13 Exe: SISC` B2, O6, R29, T21, M15 Exe: SMTR B2, O6, R29, T21, M15 Exe: TRPS RIC 10b (IX, Siscia) RIC 26b.1 (IX, Treveri) RIC 42a (IX, Treveri)

518
18) B2, O6, R33, T50, M02 Exe: ANT*

AR Siliqua
19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) B2, O6, R32, T06, M03 Exe: AQPS B2, O6, R32, T07, M15 Exe: TRPS B2, O6, R32, T07, M15 Exe: TRPS B2, O6, R33, T50, M02 Exe: ANT* B2, O6, R33, T50, M02 Exe: ANT` B2, O6, R33, T50, M02 Exe: ANT B2, O6, R33, T50, M05 Exe: CS= B2, O6, R33, T51, M13 Exe: SISCPS B2, O6, R33, T52, M05 Exe: CONCM B4, O6, R33, T46, M05 Exe: C`

Reference(s)
RIC 15a (IX, Aquileia) RIC 27e (IX, Treveri) RIC 45b (IX, Treveri) RIC 34d.3 (IX, Antiochia) RIC 34d.6 (IX, Antiochia) RIC 34d.1 (IX, Antiochia) RIC 37b (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 13a (IX, Siscia) RIC 42 (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 13d.8 (IX, Constantinopolis)

AE1
29) B2, O6, R14, T22, M03 Exe: SMAQ` RIC 6b (IX, Aquileia), L 962

AE2
30) B2, O6, R14, T22, M10 Exe: SMN` RIC 7b (IX, Nicomedia), L 2322

AE3
31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) 41) 42) 43) 44) 45) 46) 47) 48) 49) 50) 51) 52) 53) 54) 55) 56) 57) 58) 59) 60) 61) 62) 63) 64) 65) 66) 67) 68) 69) 70) 71) 72) 73) 74) 75) 76) 77) 78) 79) 80) 81) 82) 83) 84) 85) B1, O6, R07, T01, M05 Exe: COMTM B2, O6, R08, T10, M02 Exe: ANT` B2, O6, R08, T10, M05 Exe: CONS` B2, O6, R08, T10, M06 Exe: SMK` B2, O6, R08, T10, M07 Exe: SMH` B2, O6, R08, T10, M10 Exe: SMN` B2, O6, R08, T10, M13 Exe: * over A/D`SISC B2, O6, R08, T10, M13 Exe: `SISC B2, O6, R08, T10, M13 Exe: `SISC B2, O6, R08, T10, M13 Exe: D/*SISC` B2, O6, R08, T10, M13 Exe: D`SISC B2, O6, R08, T10, M13 Exe: M/* over P/`SISC B2, O6, R08, T10, M13 Exe: R/`SISC B2, O6, R08, T10, M14 Exe: */* over `/TES B2, O6, R08, T10, M14 Exe: M/* over `/TES B2, O6, R08, T10, M14 Exe: M/`/TES B2, O6, R08, T10, M14 Exe: TES` B2, O6, R08, T10, M14 Exe: V/* over `/TES B2, O6, R08, T10, M14 Exe: Z/* over `/TES B2, O6, R08, T10, M14 Exe: Z/ over `/TES B2, O6, R08, T30, M15 Exe: */TR` B2, O6, R13, T22, M05 Exe: CONS` B2, O6, R13, T22, M07 Exe: SMH` B2, O6, R13, T22, M14 Exe: TES` B2, O6, R17, T30, M03 Exe: *//SMAQ` B2, O6, R17, T30, M03 Exe: */SMAQ` B2, O6, R17, T30, M03 Exe: /SMAQ` B2, O6, R17, T30, M03 Exe: /SMAQ` B2, O6, R17, T30, M03 Exe: A/SMAQ` B2, O6, R17, T30, M03 Exe: B over /SMAQ` B2, O6, R17, T30, M03 Exe: SMAQ` B2, O6, R17, T30, M04 Exe: OF/III/CONST B2, O6, R17, T30, M05 Exe: /CONS` B2, O6, R17, T30, M06 Exe: SMK` B2, O6, R17, T30, M07 Exe: */=/SMH` B2, O6, R17, T30, M07 Exe: SMH` B2, O6, R17, T30, M08 Exe: OF over / I over R B2, O6, R17, T30, M10 Exe: SMN` B2, O6, R17, T30, M13 Exe: * over A/D`SISC B2, O6, R17, T30, M13 Exe: * over D/S/`SISC B2, O6, R17, T30, M13 Exe: * over K/Q/`SISCR B2, O6, R17, T30, M13 Exe: * over P/M/`SISC B2, O6, R17, T30, M13 Exe: `SISC B2, O6, R17, T30, M13 Exe: A over K/Q/`SISCR B2, O6, R17, T30, M13 Exe: C over !/S over /`SISCE B2, O6, R17, T30, M13 Exe: D`SISC B2, O6, R17, T30, M13 Exe: K over P/Q/`SISCR B2, O6, R17, T30, M13 Exe: R over !/S over /`SISCE B2, O6, R17, T30, M13 Exe: R over K/Q/`SISCR B2, O6, R17, T30, M14 Exe: * over Z/A/TES` B2, O6, R17, T30, M14 Exe: */TES` B2, O6, R17, T30, M14 Exe: TES` B2, O6, R17, T30, M14 Exe: /=/TES` B2, O6, R17, T39, M11 Exe: */SMR` (star is in left field) B2, O6, R17, T39, M11 Exe: R` Officina is spelled out in Latin; PRIMA, SECVNDA, TERTIA or QVARTA RIC 10b (IX, Antiochia) RIC 16c.7 (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 8b (IX, Cyzicus) RIC 3b (IX, Heraclea) RIC 9b (IX, Nicomedia) RIC 5b.7 (IX, Siscia) RIC 5b.1 (IX, Siscia) RIC 5b.2 (IX, Siscia) RIC 14b.11 (IX, Siscia), L 1306 RIC 5b.4 (IX, Siscia), L 1291 RIC 14b.10 (IX, Siscia), L 1300 RIC 26b.17 (IX, Thessalonica), L 1750 RIC 26b.30 (IX, Thessalonica), L 1781 RIC 26b.28 (IX, Thessalonica), L 1775 RIC 26b.1 (IX, Thessalonica), L 1705 RIC 26b.38 (IX, Thessalonica) RIC 26b.35 (IX, Thessalonica) RIC 26b.34 (IX, Thessalonica), L 1790 RIC 31.8 (IX, Treveri), L 107 RIC 20b (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 4c (IX, Heraclea) RIC 17b (IX, Thessalonica), L 1703 RIC 18b.19 (IX, Aquileia) RIC 12b.18 (IX, Aquileia), L 1036 RIC 11b.9 (IX, Aquileia) RIC 9b.7 (IX, Aquileia), L 987 RIC 9b.1 (IX, Aquileia), L 968 RIC 9b.3 (IX, Aquileia), L 976 RIC 11b.16 (IX, Aquileia), L 1015 RIC 17b (IX, Arelate) RIC 21c (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 11b (IX, Cyzicus) RIC 10b (IX, Heraclea) RIC 5b (IX, Heraclea) RIC 21b.29 (IX, Lugdunum) RIC 12b (IX, Nicomedia) RIC 7b.7 (IX, Siscia) RIC 15b.14 (IX, Siscia), L 1322 RIC 15b.29 (IX, Siscia) RIC 15b.17 (IX, Siscia) RIC 7b.2 (IX, Siscia) RIC 15b.30 (IX, Siscia), L 1383 RIC 15b.38 (IX, Siscia) RIC 7b.4 (IX, Siscia), L 1293 RIC 15b.27 (IX, Siscia) RIC 15b.36 (IX, Siscia) RIC 15b.32 (IX, Siscia) RIC 27b.25 (IX, Thessalonica) RIC 27b.3 (IX, Thessalonica), L 1714 RIC 27b.1 (IX, Thessalonica), L 1707 RIC 27b.20 (IX, Thessalonica) RIC 28a.9 (IX, Roma) RIC 23b (IX, Roma), L 719

519
Valens Busts

Valens Types

520
Some contemporary historians of Procopius claim that Julian II had meant for the general to succeed him instead of Jovian. Whether true or not, Jovian gained the throne and Procopius, an otherwise well-regarded general, dimmed in the background. Jovian soon died, however, and Valentinian Augustus 365-366 became the next emperor. Procopius still had an itch for the position and began to make his moves. Biding his time carefully, he waited for Valentinian's brother and colleague, Valens, to leave on an expedition and with the help of a few key conspirators had himself proclaimed emperor. Because now Valens was away with the bulk of his troops there was nothing that could be immediately done about the insurrection and Procopius was able to hold on to Constantinopolis and a few adjacent provinces.

Procopius

By the time Valens had wrapped up with his initial conflict, Procopius had been unable to secure the loyalty of several leading generals and his power base dwindled as Valens approached. Seeing that all was lost he fled but was captured and executed. Busts:
1) 2) 3) Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust left Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed, cuirassed bust right

Procopius is quite a bit tougher to find than either Julian II or Jovian who came just before his own rise to power. Part of the reason is that as usurper Procopius had access to fewer mints and, of course, he was in power only for a year. But even with these two factors considered the fact is that Procopius struck far fewer coins than either of those emperors. Even for a one year reign this was a prolific age in the minting of coins, especially out of the central Constantinoplis mint. One might be tempted to suspect that upon Valenss retaking of the city in 366 much of the precious coinage in the name of Procopius might have been recalled, melted and reissued but even if this was the case no emperor would have bothered with the bronzes which are correspondingly scarce as well. The AE3s feature a primary design with the emperor facing and holding a labarum and shield. Typically these are accompanied by a Christogram and an object on the floor that look like two stacked globes or similar shapes. While a tentative identification could be a helmet it is not a very convincing one. The design that includes this object is unique to his reign. One of these bronzes, if not very attractive, can be found every now and then on eBay for $50-$100 with nicer grades going for twice or three times that much. Siliquae are rare and expensive although not prohibitively so. Reference(s)
RIC 2b (IX, Constantinopolis)

Obverse:
1) DN PROCOPIVS PF AVG

Reverses:
1) 2) REPARATIO FEL TEMP No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Procopius standing, facing, holding labarum and resting hand on shield Procopius standing, facing, holding labarum and resting hand on shield; Chi-Rho in upper right field Procopius standing, facing, holding labarum and resting hand on shield; Chi-Rho in upper right field and object to lower left. Procopius standing, facing, holding labarum and resting hand on shield; object to lower left. Procopius standing, facing, holding spear and resting hand on shield. Wreath, VOT / V within

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) Constantinopolis Cyzicus Heraclea Nicomedia

AU Solidus
1) B2, O1, R1, T1, M1 Exe: CONS

AR Siliqua
2) 3) 4) B2, O1, R2, T6, M1 Exe: .C.` B2, O1, R2, T6, M1 Exe: C.` B2, O1, R2, T6, M2 Exe: KV` RIC 13e.11 (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 13e.6 (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 3a (IX, Cyzicus)

AE3
5) 6) 7) 8) 9) B1, O1, R1, T2, M2 Exe: *SMH` B1, O1, R1, T2, M2 Exe: ./SMH` B1, O1, R1, T2, M2 Exe: ./SMN` B1, O1, R1, T3, M1 Exe: CONS`* B1, O1, R1, T3, M2 Exe: *SMK` RIC 7.8 (IX, Cyzicus) RIC 7.5 (IX, Cyzicus) RIC 10.3 (IX, Nicomedia) RIC 17a (IX, Constantinopolis), L 2082 RIC 7 (IX, Cyzicus), L 2525

521
10) 11) B2, O1, R1, T4, M1 Exe: CONS` B2, O1, R1, T5, M1 Exe: CONS` RIC 19 (IX, Constantinopolis)

Procopius Busts

Procopius Types

522
An early supporter of Christianity, Gratian vigorously and systematically rooted out paganism wherever he could and went so far as to refuse the title of Pontifex Maximus, the highest religious position, feeling that this title belonged to a true religious leader. His early career was marked by his competent dealing with Augustus 367-383 the troublesome barbarians north of Italy while later in his career he withdrew somewhat from his duties to pursue personal ambitions. He died at the hands of his own soldiers in hopes of appeasing the presumed superior forces of Magnus Maximus who were approaching to a deciding battle.

Gratian

Busts:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust left Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (rosettes), cuirassed bust right Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust left Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right Helmeted, cuirassed bust left, holding mappa and scepter Helmeted, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right, holding spear and shield

As far as bronzes go, Gratians coins are only slightly harder to find than those of the contemporary brother duo of Valentinian I and Valens. Coins are also comparatively plentiful in silver and gold as well. Nice Siliquae may be found in the low hundreds of dollars while the typical Solidus may run only two or three times as much. Numismatically more significant, Gratians reign in tandem with Valentinian II and Theodosius I initiates the shift away from AE3s towards the smaller AE4 module. While small bronze denominations had intermittently been issued for the whole of the imperial period, under Gratian they become for the first time the predominant form of coinage for civilians in general. This last phase would go on for over 100 years more all the meanwhile the coins growing smaller and cruder in design and craftsmanship. Well into the reign of Anastasius I, a full generation after the fall of Rome, he would finally do away with these wretched little things and begin minting the first hefty bronzes to be seen since the Folles of the late 200s.

Obverse:
1) DN GRATIANVS PF AVG

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) CONCORDIA AVGG CONCORDIA AVGGG FELICITAS REIPVBLICAE FELICITAS ROMANORVM FELIX ADVENTVS AVG N GLORIA NOVI SAECVLI GLORIA REIPVB GLORIA ROMANORVM MONETA AVGG PERPETVETAS PRINCIPIVM IVVENTVTIS REPARATIO REIPVB RESTITVTOR REIPVBLICAE SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE SPES RP VICTORIA DN AVG VICTORIA AVGG VICTORIA AVGGG VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM VIRTVS EXERCITVS VIRTVS ROMANORVM VOTA PVBLICA VRBS ROMA No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27)

City gate with (2) turrets; S above. These Folles, as they were again to be Constantinopolis seated, facing, holding scepter and cornucopia. Constantinopolis seated, facing, holding spear. called, marked the beginning of the Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter and globe. Byzantine period, at least as its understood Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding globe and spear. Gratian advancing right, dragging captive and holding labarum. within the field of numismatics. Gratian and Theodosius I (or Valentinian II) seated, facing, each holding mappa and scepter. Gratian and Theodosius I (or Valentinian II) seated, facing, each holding mappa and globe. Gratian and Theodosius I (or Valentinian II) seated, facing, each holding a globe and scepter; genius between them holding shield reading VOT / V / MVL / X Gratian and Theodosius I (or Valentinian II) seated, facing, together holding globe over palm and each a mappa; Victory above them both. Gratian riding horse left, raising hand Gratian standing left on galley, raising hand; Victory seated to right, steering galley. Gratian standing right, holding spear and globe. Gratian standing, facing, holding hand of kneeling woman with cornucopia to left and labarum. Gratian standing, facing, holding hand of kneeling woman with cornucopia to left and Victory on globe. Gratian standing, facing, holding labarum and resting hand on shield. Gratian standing, facing, holding labarum and Victory on globe; eagle with wreath in beak to lower right. Gratian standing, facing, holding Victory on globe and labarum with Victory atop. Monetae (3) standing, facing, holding scale and cornucopiae. Phoenix on globe Roma seated left, holding globe and spear. Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe and scepter. Roma seated, facing, holding globe and scepter. Roma seated, facing, holding scepter and globe. Roma, holding Victory on globe and scepter and Constantinopolis, holding Victory on globe and cornucopia, stepping on galley prow; both seated, facing. Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / V / MVLT / X

523
28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) 41) 42) 43) Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / V / MVL / X Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XX Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / V / MVLT / X; genius to right also holding shield. Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / X; genius to right also holding shield. Victory standing right, stepping on globe, holding shield on cippus reading VOT / V / MVLT / X Wreath, VOT / V / MVLT / X within Wreath, VOT / V within Wreath, VOT / VX / MVLT / XX within. Wreath, VOT / X / MVLT / XV within. Wreath, VOT / X / MVLT / XX within. Wreath, VOT / XV / MVLT / XX within. Wreath, VOT / XX / MVLT / XXX within. Wreath, VOTIS / V / MVLTIS / X within. Wreath, VOTIS / V within. Wreath, VOTIS / X / MVLTIS / XX within. Wreath, VOTIS / XV / MVLTIS / XX within.

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Alexandria Antioch Aquileia Arelate Constantinopolis 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) Cyzicus Heraclea Lugdunum Mediolanum Nicomedia 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) Roma Sirmium Siscia Thessalonica Treveri

AU Medallion
1) 2) B5, O1, R08, T10, M15 Exe: TROB` Double Solidus B5, O1, R08, T25, M02 Exe: ANTOB` Double Solidus

Reference(s)

AU Solidus
3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) B2, O1, R02, T04, M05 Exe: CONOB B2, O1, R11, T13, M05 Exe: *CONS= B2, O1, R17, T10, M15 Exe: TROB` B2, O1, R19, T28, M02 Exe: /ANOB` B5, O1, R02, T04, M05 Exe: CONOB B5, O1, R17, T10, M15 Exe: TROB` RIC 43a (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 24 (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 39d (IX, Treveri) RIC 21a (IX, Antioch) RIC 44a (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 17g (IX, Treveri)

AU Scripulum
9) B2, O1, R16, T26, M05 Exe: CONS

AR Miliarense
10) B2, O1, R20, T16, M15 Exe: TRPS RIC 53a (IX, Treveri)

AR Siliqua
11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) B2, O1, R21, T23, M15 Exe: TRPS B2, O1, R23, T22, M15 Exe: TRPS B2, O1, R23, T22, M15 Exe: TRPS B2, O1, R23, T33, M05 Exe: C` B2, O1, R23, T37, M02 Exe: ANT* B2, O1, R24, T36, M13 Exe: SISCPS RIC 58a (IX, Treveri), C 54 RIC 27f (IX, Treveri), C 86 RIC 45c (IX, Treveri), C 86 RIC 36e (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 34f (IX, Antiochia) RIC 25 (IX, Siscia), C 72

AE1
17) B2, O1, R23, T21, M11 Exe: R` RIC 42a (IX, Roma), C 88

AE2
18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) B2, O1, R12, T15, M08 Exe: LVG` B2, O1, R12, T15, M08 Exe: S/LVG` B2, O1, R12, T15, M11 Exe: R` B2, O1, R12, T15, M11 Exe: SMR` B2, O1, R12, T15, M13 Exe: *`SISC B2, O1, R12, T15, M13 Exe: *`SISC B2, O1, R12, T15, M13 Exe: `SISC B2, O1, R12, T15, M13 Exe: `SISC B2, O1, R12, T15, M14 Exe: `/SMTES B2, O1, R14, T26, M11 Exe: SM\R` B7, O1, R08, T12, M02 Exe: =/ANT` B7, O1, R08, T12, M05 Exe: =/CON` B7, O1, R08, T12, M06 Exe: =/SMK` B7, O1, R08, T12, M07 Exe: SMH` RIC 28a (IX, Lugdunum) RIC 28a (IX, Lugdunum) RIC 43a (IX, Roma) RIC 43a (IX, Roma) RIC 26a (IX, Siscia) RIC 26a (IX, Siscia) RIC 26a (IX, Siscia) RIC 26a (IX, Siscia) RIC 37a (IX, Thessalonica) RIC 28a (IX, Roma) RIC 40a (IX, Antiochia) RIC 52a (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 14a (IX, Cyzicus) RIC 11a (IX, Heraclea)

524
AE3
32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) 41) 42) 43) 44) 45) 46) 47) 48) 49) 50) 51) 52) 53) 54) B2, O1, R02, T23, M05 Exe: CONS` B2, O1, R02, T23, M06 Exe: /SMK` B2, O1, R02, T23, M13 Exe: `SISC B2, O1, R02, T24, M07 Exe: *SMH` B2, O1, R02, T24, M07 Exe: /SMH` B2, O1, R08, T06, M13 Exe: over M/* over P/`SISC B2, O1, R08, T06, M13 Exe: over M/* over R over O/`SISC B2, O1, R08, T06, M13 Exe: D/*`SISC B2, O1, R08, T06, M13 Exe: F/D over P/`SISCE B2, O1, R08, T06, M13 Exe: F/R over !/`SISCE B2, O1, R08, T06, M13 Exe: M/* over F/`SISC B2, O1, R08, T06, M13 Exe: M/* over P/`SISC B2, O1, R08, T06, M13 Exe: Q/* over K/`SISCE B2, O1, R08, T06, M13 Exe: Q/* over K/`SISCR B2, O1, R08, T06, M13 Exe: Q/* over R over O/`SISCR B2, O1, R08, T06, M13 Exe: Q/A over K/`SISCE B2, O1, R08, T06, M13 Exe: Q/K over K/`SISCE B2, O1, R08, T06, M14 Exe: V/* over `/TES B2, O1, R14, T26, M04 Exe: `CON B2, O1, R14, T26, M11 Exe: R` Officina is spelled out in Latin; PRIMA, SECVNDA, TERTIA or QVARTA B2, O1, R14, T26, M11 Exe: SMR` B2, O1, R14, T26, M13 Exe: D/*`SISC B2, O1, R21, T23, M02 Exe: ANT`

Reference(s)
RIC 56a (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 17a (IX, Cyzicus) RIC 27a (IX, Siscia) RIC 15a (IX, Heraclea) RIC 14a (IX, Heraclea) RIC 14c.18 (IX, Siscia) RIC 14c.20 (IX, Siscia) RIC 14c.11 (IX, Siscia) RIC 14c.44a (IX, Siscia) RIC 14c.35 (IX, Siscia) RIC 14c.16 (IX, Siscia) RIC 14c.17 (IX, Siscia) RIC 14c.27 (IX, Siscia) RIC 14c.27 (IX, Siscia) RIC 14c (IX, Siscia) RIC 14c.30 (IX, Siscia) RIC 14c.32 (IX, Siscia) RIC 31c (IX, Thessalonica) RIC 19b (IX, Arelate) RIC 23c (IX, Roma), L 720 RIC 28c (IX, Roma) RIC 15c (IX, Siscia), L 1310 RIC 50a (IX, Antiochia)

AE4
55) 56) 57) 58) B2, O1, R24, T38, M04 Exe: `CON B2, O1, R24, T38, M13 Exe: `SISC B2, O1, R24, T39, M02 Exe: ANT` B2, O1, R24, T39, M07 Exe: SMH` RIC 24 (IX, Arelate), L 552 RIC 31a (IX, Siscia), L 1539 RIC 58a (IX, Antiochia) RIC 20a (IX, Heraclea)

Gratian Busts

Gratian Types

525

Valentinian II
Augustus 375-392

Valentinian II was the son of Valentinian I and became emperor when his father died. He was still only a child at the time and the Western empire was divided between him and his halfbrother Gratian. However, while Gratian ruled at his will, Valentinian was too young and, instead, several behind-the-scenes characters exercised the real power on his behalf.

After Gratian's death Valentinian faced a major threat from Magnus Maximus who was gobbling up the Western empire and had no room for him in his quest. He solicited and then received help from Theodosius, the emperor of the East, who subsequently came to his aid and defeated Maximus. However, Valentinian was still unable to shake the web of control that others had over him. Theodosius lingered in Italy after the defeat of Maximus and essentially ruled the entire empire from Valentinian's own court while simultaneously relegating Valentinian to the background. When he finally left, he appointed one of his commanders, Arbogastes, as an administrative aide for Valentinian II. This would be a thinly veiled puppet of Theodosius. Valentinian, not being the wiser, complained to Theodosius by correspondence about his situation and lack of empowerment. The complaints fell on deaf ears as this was, naturally, all part of Theodosius's plans. When he saw nothing would be done about the issue he summoned the courage to force Arbogastes to retire only to have the general tear up the resignation letter in his face. He then sneered and derided Valentinian with a comment to the effect that he wasn't taking orders from him. In a fit of anger Valentinian grabbed a sword and started for Arbogastes but was held back by guards. Two days later he was found hung in a room. Whether he committed suicide in despair over his powerlessness or was assassinated directly on account of Arbogastes is left to speculation. Busts:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed bust left, wearing imperial mantle, holding mappa and scepter Diademed, cuirassed bust right Diademed, draped bust left, holding mappa and scepter Helmeted, cuirassed bust right, holding scepter with Chi-Rho atop and shield Helmeted, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right, holding spear and shield

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) DN VALENTINIANS PF AVG DN VALENTINIANVS IVN PF AVG DN VALENTINIANVS PF AVG

Like other guys from this period, one finds many coins of this emperor on the market. Most newer collectors will be introduced by way of the many, many AE4s available. These comprise one of two main types: the Victory advancing left, hauling a captive and the quintessentially Roman Vota issue. Coins with these Vota themes are religious commitments made in exchange for time served. For example, an emperor who has made it five years on the throne might issue a commemorative of that milestone with a simple VOT/V encased in a wreath. A more optimistic emperor may go ahead and issue coins with various numerals followed by a MVLT, or multiplier, of however many more years he thinks he will stay in power and then, if that term is achieved, to be renewed again. Asides from bronzes, the silver Siliqua and the gold Solidus are also easy to find and comparatively affordable with rough estimates for common types costing $150 and $500, respectively.

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) CONCORDIA AVGGG CONCORDIA AVGGGG FELIX ADVENTVS AVG N GLORIA REIPVBLICE GLORIA ROMANORVM PERPETVETAS REPARATIO REIPVB RESTITVTOR REIP RESTITVTOR REIPVBLICAE SALVS REIPVBLICAE SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE SPES REIPVBLICAE TRIVMFATOR GENT BARB VICTORIA AVG VICTORIA AVGG VICTORIA AVGGG VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM VIRTVS AVGGG VIRTVS EXERCITI VIRTVS EXERCITVS VIRTVS ROMANORVM VOTA PVBLICA VRBS ROMA VRBS ROMA FELIX No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) City gate with two turrets Constantinopolis seated, facing, holding scepter and shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XV Constantinopolis seated, facing, holding scepter and shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XX

526
4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) 41) 42) Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on globe, holding scepter and globe. Phoenix standing left on globe. Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe and spear. Roma seated, facing, holding globe and spear Roma, holding scepter and Constantinopolis, stepping on galley prow, holding shield reading VOT / XV / MVLT / XX and scepter; both seated, facing. Roma, holding Victory on globe and scepter and Constantinopolis, stepping on galley prow, holding Victory on globe and cornucopia, bothe seated, facing. Valentinian II advancing right, dragging captive and holding labarum. Valentinian II and Gratian (or Theodosius I) seated, facing, each holding a mappa and scepter. Valentinian II and Gratian (or Theodosius I) seated, facing, together holding globe over palm; Victory above and in between them. Valentinian II riding horse left, raising hand. Valentinian II standing left on galley, holding Phoenix on globe; Victory seated to right, steering galley. Valentinian II standing left on galley, raising hand; Victory seated to right, steering galley. Valentinian II standing right, stepping on captive, holding labarum and globe Valentinian II standing right, stepping on captive, holding labarum and Victory on globe. Valentinian II standing, facing, holding hand of kneeling woman with cornucopia to left and labarum. Valentinian II standing, facing, holding hand of kneeling woman with cornucopia to left and Victory on globe. Valentinian II standing, facing, holding labarum and globe; captive to left. Valentinian II standing, facing, holding labarum and resting hand on shield. Valentinian II standing, facing, raising hand and holding globe. Valentinian II standing, facing, stepping on captive, holding labarum and globe. Victories (2) standing, facing, each holding wreath and palm. Victory advancing left, holding trophy and dragging captive. Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. Victory advancing left, holding wreath in each hand. Victory advancing right, holding wreath and cross on globe. Victory advancing right, holding wreath in each hand. Victory advancing right, stepping on globe, holding wreath and cross on globe. Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / V Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / V / MVL / X Victory standing right, stepping on globe, holding shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XX Wreath, VOT / V / MVLT / X within. Wreath, VOT / V / MVLTIS / X within Wreath, VOT / V within Wreath, VOT / X / MVLT / XV within Wreath, VOT / X / MVLT / XX within Wreath, VOT / XV / MVLT / XX within Wreath, VOT / XX / MVLT / XXX within Wreath, VOTIS / V / MVLTIS / X within. Wreath, VOTIS / X / MVLTIS / XV within

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Alexandria Antioch Aquileia Arelate Constantinopolis 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) Cyzicus Heraclea Lugdunum Mediolanum Nicomedia 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) Roma Sirmium Siscia Thessalonica Treveri

AU Solidus
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) B1, O1, R02, T04, M05 Exe: CONOB B1, O2, R15, T12, M14 Exe: TESOB at end of reverse legend B1, O2, R15, T12, M15 Exe: TROB` B1, O3, R15, T12, M09 Exe: COM B1, O3, R15, T12, M14 Exe: TESOB B1, O3, R15, T12, M15 Exe: T/R/COM B2, O3, R02, T04, M05 Exe: CONOB Officina at end of reverse legend B3, O3, R22, T11, M09 Exe: M/D/COM

Reference(s)
RIC 67a (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 34b (IX, Thessalonica) RIC 49c (IX, Treveri) RIC 8a (IX, Mediolanum) RIC 34e (IX, Thessalonica) RIC 90a (IX, Treveri) RIC 45b (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 9 (IX, Mediolanum)

AR Siliqua
9) 10) 11) 12) 13) B1, O2, R16, T26, M15 Exe: TRPS B1, O3, R21, T06, M15 Exe: TRPS B1, O3, R23, T06, M08 Exe: LVGPS B1, O3, R23, T06, M09 Exe: AQPS B1, O3, R25, T38, M05 Exe: CONS RIC 57a (IX, Treveri) RIC 94a (IX, Treveri) RIC 43a (IX, Lugdunum) RIC 15d (IX, Aquileia) RIC 77a (IX, Constantinopolis)

AE2
14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) B1, O2, R07, T19, M03 Exe: SMAQ` B1, O2, R07, T19, M13 Exe: *`SISC B1, O2, R07, T19, M13 Exe: *`SISC B1, O2, R07, T19, M13 Exe: `SISC B1, O2, R07, T19, M13 Exe: `SISC B1, O3, R07, T19, M11 Exe: SMR` B1, O3, R07, T19, M14 Exe: `/SMTES B1, O3, R19, T23, M01 Exe: ALE` B1, O3, R19, T23, M02 Exe: ANT` B1, O3, R19, T23, M05 Exe: /CONS` B1, O3, R19, T23, M07 Exe: */SMH` B7, O3, R05, T14, M02 Exe: =/ANT` B7, O3, R05, T15, M05 Exe: =/CON` B7, O3, R05, T15, M07 Exe: T/SMH` RIC 30b (IX, Aquileia) RIC 26b.5 (IX, Siscia) RIC 26b.7 (IX, Siscia) RIC 26b.1 (IX, Siscia) RIC 26b.3 (IX, Siscia) RIC 43c (IX, Roma) RIC 37b (IX, Thessalonica) RIC 18a (IX, Alexandria) RIC 63b (IX, Antiochia) RIC 83a (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 24a (IX, Heraclea) RIC 40b (IX, Antiochia) RIC 52b (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 21a (IX, Heraclea)

527
AE3
28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) B1, O1, R01, T07, M13 Exe: `/SISC B1, O2, R23, T06, M10 Exe: */SMN` B1, O2, R23, T06, M10 Exe: /*/SMN` B1, O3, R01, T07, M01 Exe: O/ALE` B1, O3, R01, T07, M02 Exe: / over K/ANT` B1, O3, R01, T07, M05 Exe: CONS` B1, O3, R01, T07, M07 Exe: SMH` B1, O3, R05, T10, M03 Exe: SMAQ` B1, O3, R05, T10, M13 Exe: `SISC B2, O3, R01, T07, M02 Exe: / over K/ANT` B7, O3, R05, T15, M05 Exe: =/CON` B7, O3, R05, T15, M06 Exe: =/SMK` B7, O3, R05, T15, M07 Exe: T/SMH`

Reference(s)
RIC 27b (IX, Siscia) RIC 31 (IX, Nicomedia) RIC 34 (IX, Nicomedia) RIC 45b (IX, Antiochia), L 2696 RIC 56b (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 14b (IX, Heraclea) RIC 45b (IX, Aquileia) RIC 38a (IX, Siscia) RIC 45c (IX, Antiochia) RIC 52b (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 14b (IX, Cyzicus) RIC 21a (IX, Heraclea)

AE4
41) 42) 43) 44) 45) 46) 47) 48) 49) 50) 51) 52) B1, O2, R10, T25, M05 Exe: /CONS` B1, O2, R16, T25, M03 Exe: /AQ` B1, O2, R16, T26, M14 Exe: `SIS B1, O2, R25, T34, M14 Exe: `SISC B1, O2, R25, T34, M14 Exe: `SISC B1, O3, R10, T25, M06 Exe: /SMK` B1, O3, R14, T24, M14 Exe: TES` B1, O3, R25, T38, M01 Exe: ALE` B1, O3, R25, T38, M02 Exe: AN` B1, O3, R25, T38, M06 Exe: SMK` B1, O3, R25, T38, M07 Exe: SMH` B1, O3, R25, T38, M10 Exe: SMN` RIC 86a (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 58a (IX, Aquileia), L 1105 RIC 39a (IX, Siscia) RIC 29c.1 (IX, Siscia), L 1545 RIC 29c.3 (IX, Siscia), L 1549 RIC 26a (IX, Cyzicus) RIC 63a (IX, Thessalonica), L 1863 RIC 19a (IX, Alexandria) RIC 65a (IX, Antiochia) RIC 21b (IX, Cyzicus) RIC 19b (IX, Heraclea) RIC 38a (IX, Nicomedia)

Valentinian II Busts

528
Valentinian II Types

Theodosius I
Augustus 375-395

The son of a famous general, Theodosius's own military prowess caught the eye of Gratian who sent him off with an army to deal with the various barbarian hordes making regular excursions into Roman territory. After scoring some impressive victories on the battlefield Gratian gave Theodosius the ultimate reward by crowning him emperor and formal successor to Valens.

Theodosius then went on to settle a peace treaty with the barbarians and conferred upon them "federate" status and allowed them to occupy Roman territory under the condition that they would defend it against other intruders. The benefit, in principle at least, was that this settlement created a buffer zone for the Romans. In the following years he put down the rebellions headed by Magnus Maximus and then, literally with a little help from the weather, by the puppet emperor Eugenius. During the waning years of his life he became the first Roman emperor to turn full circle on the issue of religious persecution. After centuries of Christian persecution and then another three quarters of a century whereby Christianity coexisted mostly peacefully with Pagan rituals, Theodosius began the active persecution and steady elimination of all non-Christian sects and their temples. This policy would be vigorously followed by all succeeding emperors. He died in 395 leaving behind a split empire to be ruled by his sons Honorius and Arcadius. Busts:
1) 2) 3) 4) Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right Helmeted, diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right, holding spear and shield Helmeted, diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right, holding spear and shield

529
Obverses:
1) 2) DN THEODOSIVS PF AVG DN THEODOSVIS PF AVG

Theodosius leaves a strong numismatic legacy, by fourth century standards, with a myriad of different denominations, sizes and weights of his coins. For several decades coinage in general had inexorably tended towards smaller coins made of cheaper metal alloys while at the same time maintaining or increasing their nominal value. In other words, inflation. While the economic maladies ailing the empire were far greater than Theodosius could hope to remedy he does temporarily increase the size and heft of the bronzes. He also introduces the Tremissis, a small but versatile coin that is successful enough to continue being used for the next 200 years. These measures, at least symbolically, aim to strengthen the shrinking empire. Asides from their historical significance, the collector will be pleased to find that obtaining high-grade type sets of this emperor is an easy and surprisingly affordable task. The small bronzes are particularly plentiful and make up a sizeable proportion of uncleaned coins as available on the Internet and most coin dealers.

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) CONCORDIA AVGG CONCORDIA AVGGG CONCORDIA AVGGGG GLORIA REIPVB GLORIA REIPVBLICE GLORIA ROMANORVM PERPETVETAS REPARATIO REIPVB RESTITVTOR REIPVBLICAE RESTITVTOR REIPVBLICE SALVS REIPVBLICAE SPES REIPVBLICAE SPES ROMANORVM TRIVMFATOR GENT BARB VICTORIA AVG VICTORIA AVGG VICTORIA AVGGG VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM VIRTVS EXERCITI VIRTVS EXERCITVS VIRTVS ROMANORVM VOTA PVBLICA VRBS ROMA VRBS ROMA FELIX No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) City gate with (2) turrets. Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding globe and scepter. Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter and cornucopia Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter and globe Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter and shield reading VOT / V / MVL / X Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter and shield reading VOT / X / MVL / XV Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter and shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XV Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding spear Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter and cornucopia. Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe and spear. Roma seated, facing, holding globe and spear. Roma standing, facing, holding trophy and Victory on globe; shield by feet. Theodosius I advancing right, dragging captive and holding trophy. Theodosius I and Gratian seated, facing, together holding globe over palm; Victory above and between them. Theodosius I and Valentinian II seated, facing, each holding a scepter. Theodosius I riding horse right, raising hand. Theodosius I standing left, holding hand of kneeling woman with cornucopia and labarum Theodosius I standing left, holding hand of kneeling woman with cornucopia and Victory on globe Theodosius I standing left on galley, holding phoenix on globe and labarum; Victory seated to right, steering galley. Theodosius I standing left on galley, raising hand; Victory seated to right, steering galley. Theodosius I standing right, stepping on captive, holding labarum and globe Theodosius I standing, facing, holding labarum and globe Theodosius I standing, facing, holding labarum and globe; seated captive to left. Theodosius I standing, facing, holding labarum and resting hand on shield Theodosius I standing, facing, holding Victory on globe and labarum. Theodosius I standing, facing, raising hand and holding globe Victories (2) standing, facing each other, each holding a wreath and a palm Victory advancing left, holding trophy and dragging captive. Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm Victory advancing right, dragging captive and holding trophy. Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / V / MVL / X on lap Victory standing right, holding wreath and cross on globe Wreath, VOT / V / MVLT / X within Wreath, VOT / V within Wreath, VOT / X / MVLT / XX within Wreath, VOT / X / MVLT / XXX within Wreath, VOT / X / MVLTIS / XX within Wreath, VOT / XV / MVLT / XX within Wreath, VOT / XX / MVLT / XXX within

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Alexandria Antioch Aquileia Arelate Constantinopolis Cyzicus 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) Heraclea Londinium Lugdunum Mediolanum Nicomedia Roma 13) 14) 15) 16) Sirmium Siscia Thessalonica Treveri

530
AU Solidus
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) B1, O1, R02, T05, M05 Exe: CONOB B1, O1, R02, T06, M05 Exe: CONOB Officina at end of reverse legend B1, O1, R02, T08, M05 Exe: CONOB Officina at end of reverse legend B1, O1, R16, T15, M10 Exe: COM B1, O1, R16, T15, M10 Exe: M/D/COM B1, O1, R16, T15, M13 Exe: SIROB B1, O1, R16, T15, M16 Exe: TROB` B1, O1, R17, T22, M13 Exe: S/M/CONOB Officina at end of reverse legend B2, O1, R02, T05, M05 Exe: CONOB Officina at end of reverse legend B2, O1, R02, T06, M05 Exe: CONOB Officina at end of reverse legend B2, O1, R02, T08, M05 Exe: CONOB Officina at end of reverse legend B2, O1, R03, T08, M05 Exe: CONOB Officina at end of reverse legend

Reference(s)
RIC 43b (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 70b (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 71A (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 5b (IX, Mediolanum) RIC 8b.2 (IX, Mediolanum) RIC 9c (IX, Sirmium) RIC 50 (IX, Treveri) RIC 15 (IX, Sirmium) RIC 45d (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 44b (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 71b (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 47b (IX, Constantinopolis)

AU Tremissis
13) 14) B1, O1, R18, T33, M05 Exe: */CONOB B1, O1, R18, T33, M05 Exe: CONOB RIC 75b (IX, Constantinopolis)

AR Siliqua
15) 16) 17) 18) B1, O1, R02, T03, M16 Exe: TRPS B1, O1, R21, T11, M16 Exe: TRPS B1, O1, R25, T36, M05 Exe: CONS B1, O1, R25, T36, M10 Exe: MDPS RIC 55a (IX, Treveri) RIC 94b (IX, Treveri) RIC 87a (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 14b (IX, Mediolanum)

AE2
19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) 41) 42) B1, O1, R06, T22, M02 Exe: ANT` B1, O1, R06, T22, M07 Exe: SMH` B1, O1, R06, T23, M01 Exe: ALE` B1, O1, R08, T19, M12 Exe: SMR` B1, O1, R08, T19, M14 Exe: *`SISC B1, O1, R08, T19, M14 Exe: *`SISC B1, O1, R08, T19, M14 Exe: `SIS B1, O1, R08, T19, M14 Exe: `SISC B1, O1, R08, T19, M14 Exe: `SISC B1, O1, R19, T22, M06 Exe: SMK` B1, O1, R19, T22, M07 Exe: */SMH` B1, O1, R19, T22, M07 Exe: SMH` B1, O1, R19, T22, M11 Exe: SMN` B2, O1, R06, T05, M05 Exe: /I/CONS` B2, O1, R19, T22, M01 Exe: ALE` B3, O1, R06, T21, M02 Exe: =/ANT` B3, O1, R06, T21, M05 Exe: =/CON` B3, O1, R06, T21, M05 Exe: T/CON` B3, O1, R06, T21, M06 Exe: =/SMK` B3, O1, R06, T21, M06 Exe: T/SMK` B3, O1, R06, T21, M07 Exe: SMH` B3, O1, R06, T21, M07 Exe: T/SMH` B3, O1, R06, T21, M11 Exe: =/SMN` B3, O1, R06, T21, M15 Exe: =/TES` RIC 68a (IX, Antiochia) RIC 27a (IX, Heraclea) RIC 21a (IX, Alexandria) RIC 43d (IX, Roma) RIC 26c.5 (IX, Siscia), L 1527 RIC 26c.7 (IX, Siscia), L 1533 RIC 26c.1 (IX, Siscia), L 1514 RIC 26c.3 (IX, Siscia), L 1521 RIC 25b (IX, Cyzicus) RIC 24b.2 (IX, Heraclea) RIC 24b.1 (IX, Heraclea) RIC 44b (IX, Nicomedia), L 2394 RIC 57d (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 18c (IX, Alexandria) RIC 40d (IX, Antiochia) RIC 52c (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 79b (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 14c (IX, Cyzicus) RIC 23 (IX, Cyzicus) RIC 11c (IX, Heraclea) RIC 21b (IX, Heraclea) RIC 25c (IX, Nicomedia) RIC 44b (IX, Thessalonica)

AE3
43) 44) 45) 46) 47) 48) 49) 50) 51) B1, O1, R01, T01, M15 Exe: `/TES B1, O1, R02, T02, M11 Exe: SMN` B1, O1, R02, T02, M14 Exe: `SISC B1, O1, R02, T05, M05 Exe: O/CONS` B1, O1, R06, T14, M14 Exe: `SISC B1, O1, R06, T14, M15 Exe: `/TES B1, O1, R06, T17, M05 Exe: CONS` B1, O1, R06, T23, M05 Exe: CONS` B1, O1, R17, T20, M15 Exe: `/TES RIC 62b (IX, Thessalonica) RIC 29 (IX, Nicomedia) RIC 27d (IX, Siscia) RIC 57a (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 28 (IX, Siscia), L 1558 RIC 60b (IX, Thessalonica) RIC 89a (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 88a (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 61b (IX, Thessalonica)

AE4
52) 53) 54) 55) 56) 57) 58) 59) 60) 61) 62) 63) 64) 65) B1, O1, R05, T01, M15 Exe: `/TES B1, O1, R11, T29, M02 Exe: /ANT` B1, O1, R11, T29, M02 Exe: /ANT` B1, O1, R11, T29, M05 Exe: /CONS B1, O1, R11, T29, M06 Exe: /SMK` B1, O1, R11, T29, M07 Exe: SMH` B1, O1, R11, T29, M11 Exe: SMN` B1, O1, R11, T29, M15 Exe: /TES` B1, O1, R17, T30, M04 Exe: `CON B1, O1, R17, T30, M14 Exe: `SIS B1, O1, R17, T30, M14 Exe: `SIS B1, O1, R25, T34, M14 Exe: `SISC B1, O1, R25, T35, M07 Exe: SMH` B1, O1, R25, T36, M05 Exe: CON` RIC 62b (IX, Thessalonica) RIC 70a (IX, Antiochia) RIC 67b.2 (IX, Antioch) RIC 86b (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 27b (IX, Cyzicus), L 1984 RIC 26b (IX, Heraclea) RIC 45b (IX, Nicomedia), L 2404 RIC 65 (IX, Thessalonica) RIC 30d (IX, Arelate), L 563 RIC 39b.1 (IX, Siscia), L 1576 RIC 39b.3 (IX, Siscia), L 1580 RIC 29d (IX, Siscia), L 1546 RIC 63b (IX, Constantinopolis)

531
66) 67) 68) B1, O1, R25, T36, M06 Exe: SMK` B1, O1, R25, T36, M07 Exe: SMH` B1, O1, R25, T36, M14 Exe: `SISC RIC 19 (IX, Cyzicus), L 2557 RIC 19c (IX, Heraclea) RIC 30b (IX, Siscia)

Theodosius I Busts

Theodosius I Types

532

Aelia Flaccilla
? - d.386

Wife of Theodosius I and mother of Honorius and Arcadius.

Bust:
1) Diademed, draped bust right, wearing ear rings and necklace

Obverse:
1) AEL FLACCILLA AVG

Fifty years had passed with emperor coming and going and not a one of them having the decency to promote their wives to a formal Augusta. And if any of them did for some reason no coins with their effigy appeared during this time. This is all changed during the reign of Theodosius when Aelia is given a modest share of the total output of coins. Her name, just as was the case with Julius Caesar and Augustus, will become an honorary title bestowed upon future empresses. Although Siliquae and even Solidi are known they are so rare theyre catalogued here for the sake of completeness but its very doubtful theyll ever appear in significant quantities. Bronzes on the other hand are if not plentiful at least accessible enough. Starter coppers can be had for $20 or less and nicer ones climbing steadily up to around $100.
5) 6) 7) 8) Heraclea Nicomedia Siscia Thessalonica

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) SALVS REIPVBLICAE SALVS REIPVBLICAES SALVS REPVBLICAE No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) Aelia Flaccilla standing, facing, hands braced over chest. Victory seated right, holding shield with Chi-Rho on column Wreath, Chi-Rho within

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) Alexandria Antioch Constantinopolis Cyzicus

AU Solidus
1) B1, O1, R1, T2, M3 Exe: CONOB

Reference(s)
RIC 72 (IX, Constantinopolis)

AR Siliqua
2) B1, O1, R4, T3, M3 Exe: CON` RIC 78 (IX, Constantinopolis)

AE2
3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) B1, O1, R1, T1, M1 Exe: ALE` B1, O1, R1, T1, M2 Exe: ANT` B1, O1, R1, T1, M3 Exe: /CON` B1, O1, R1, T1, M3 Exe: T/CONS` B1, O1, R1, T1, M4 Exe: SMK` B1, O1, R1, T1, M6 Exe: SMN` B1, O1, R1, T2, M2 Exe: T/ANT` B1, O1, R1, T2, M3 Exe: CON` B1, O1, R1, T2, M3 Exe: T/CON` B1, O1, R1, T2, M5 Exe: T/SMH` B1, O1, R1, T2, M5 Exe: T/SMH`* B1, O1, R1, T2, M7 Exe: SISC. RIC 4 (IX, Alexandria) RIC 62 (IX, Antioch), L 2760 RIC 82 (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 82 (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 24 (IX, Cyzicus) RIC 25 (IX, Nicomedia) RIC 43 (IX, Antioch) RIC 55 (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 81 (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 23 (IX, Heraclea) RIC 35 (IX, Siscia)

AE4
15) 16) 17) 18) B1, O1, R1, T2, M2 Exe: AN` B1, O1, R1, T2, M3 Exe: CON` B1, O1, R1, T2, M5 Exe: . SMH` B1, O1, R1, T2, M7 Exe: SISC. L 2744 RIC 61 (IX, Constantinopolis), L 2162 RIC 36 (IX, Heraclea) RIC 35 (IX, Siscia)

533
Aelia Flaccilla Bust

It's uncertain exactly how Magnus Maximus came to power. At the time he was a general in Britain and whether by his own will or that of his troops he was hailed as emperor. Gratian moved quickly to put down the revolt and bring Maximus to justice but, his troops mutinied, switched sides and had Augustus 383-388 Gratian executed instead. Maximus then sought to have his claim recognized throughout the rest of the empire and to this end he sent a delegation to the court of Theodosius. If not outright enthusiastic, Theodosius was at least initially cooperative and accepted Maximus. However, the situation changed when Maximus upset the balance of power by intending to appropriate Italy which was under the control of Valentinian II. Suddenly, Theodosius realized that Maximus was intent on becoming the sole ruler of the West and possibly the East as well. Theodosius then rescinded his recognition of Maximus and sent a large army against him. The two sides met roughly halfway between their courts and Maximus was defeated. Maximus was then captured and executed in Aquileia.

Magnus Maximus

Busts:
1) 2) Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) DN MAG MAXIMVS PF AVG DN MAG MAXINVS PF AVG DN MAXIMVS PF AVG DN MAXIMVS PF AVS

Bronzes for this emperor are typically found in very poor condition but, thankfully, with the low grade comes a correspondingly affordable price tag. Nicely preserved bronzes will easily cost well over $100. At those prices you might as well consider the silver. Siliquae are available, though not very abundantly, for $100-$200 as a starting point. Gem Siliquae will cost two or three times that much and will usually be offered only through specialized auction houses rather than corner shop dealers. Gold coins in any denomination are really, really rare.

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) CONCORDIA AVGGG REPARATIO REIPVB RESTITVTOR REIPVBLICAE SPES ROMANORVM VICTORIA AVGG VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM VIRTVS EXERCITI VIRTVS EXERCITVS VIRTVS ROMANORVM

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) City gate with (2) turrets, star above Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter and globe Magnus Maximus and Theodosius I seated, facing, together holding globe Magnus Maximus and Theodosius I seated, facing, together holding globe; Victory above them, palm below Magnus Maximus standing left, holding hand of kneeling woman and Victory on globe. Magnus Maximus standing right, stepping on captive, holding labarum and globe. Magnus Maximus standing, facing, holding labarum and resting hand on shield. Magnus Maximus standing, facing, holding labarum and Victory on globe. Magnus Maximus standing, facing, holding Victory on globe and labarum. Roma seated, facing, holding globe and spear. Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. Wreath, VO / TIS / V within. Wreath, VOT / V / MVLT / X within

534
Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) Aquileia Arelate Constantinopolis Londinium (Augusta) 5) 6) 7) 8) Lugdunum Mediolanum Roma Treveri

AU Solidus
1) 2) 3) B2, O1, R3, T08, M8 Exe: */SMTR B2, O1, R5, T03, M8 Exe: TROB B2, O4, R1, T02, M3 Exe: CONOB

Reference(s)
RIC 2 (IX, Treveri) RIC 77b (IX, Treveri)

AR Miliarense
4) B1, O1, R8, T07, M8 Exe: TRPS RIC 82 (IX, Treveri)

AR Siliqua
5) B1, O1, R9, T10, M8 Exe: TRPS

Reference(s)
RIC 84b (IX, Treveri)

AE2
6) B1, O1, R2, T05, M2 Exe: `CON RIC 26a (IX, Arelate)

AE4
7) 8) 9) 10) B1, O1, R4, T01, M1 Exe SMAQ` B1, O1, R4, T01, M2 Exe: `CON B1, O1, R4, T01, M8 Exe: SMTR B1, O2, R4, T01, M5 Exe: LVG` RIC 55a (IX, Aquileia), L 1103 RIC 29a (IX, Arelate) RIC 87a (IX, Treveri), L 156

Magnus Maximus Busts

Magnus Maximus Types

535
Not yet old enough to be in kindergarten, Flavius Victor was the unfortunate victim of a very brutal and violent age. His father Magnus Maximus named him co-Augustus soon after he was born and then was off on his quest to become the Western Emperor. Although he met with success initially, Maximus was no match for Augustus 384-388 Theodosius once he made a concerted effort to oust him. Victor, on the other hand, was sent for after Maximus's final defeat and was slain to end any possibility of future contests from this quarter.

Flavius Victor

Bust:
1) Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right

Obverses:
1) 2) DN FL VICTOR PF AVG DN FL ICTOR PF AVG

Youre not likely to come across a coin of Flavius Victor by accident. Its either an AE4 camp gate or a silver Siliqua both of which routinely sell for hundreds of dollars even when they appear mediocre. A sharp eye and some patience can score one of the AE4s for around $100 on eBay.

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) BONO REIPVBLICE NATI SPES ROMANORVM VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM VIRTVS ROMANORVM

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) City gate with (2) turrets, star above Magnus Maximus and Flavius Victor seated, facing, holding together globe; Victory between them. Roma seated, facing, holding globe and spear. Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm.

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Aquileia Arelate Lugdunum Mediolanum Treveri

AR Siliqua
1) 2) B1, O1, R4, T3, M4 Exe: MDPS B1, O1, R4, T3, M5 Exe: TRPS

Reference(s)
RIC 19b (IX, Mediolanum) RIC 84d (IX, Treveri)

AE4
3) 4) B1, O1, R2, T1, M1 Exe: SMAQ` B1, O1, R2, T1, M2 Exe: `CON RIC 55b (IX, Aquileia), L 1004 RIC 29b (IX, Mediolanum), L 561

Flavius Victor Bust

Flavius Victor Types

536
After the death of Valentinian II followed one of the most embarrassing low-points in Roman history. Italy and what was left of the Roman empire was left leaderless. The barbarian warlord Arbogast wielded power but was unable to call himself the emperor because to do so would have been an outrage so scandalous that Augustus 392-394 it would likely throw the entire empire into complete turmoil. Thus evaluating his response over what to do next, a period that lasted over a year, he decided to name Eugenius the emperor. Needless to say, Eugenius served merely as a figurehead for Arbogast's desires. To the end of making it all seem legitimate, he sent a series of diplomats to the court of Theodosius in hopes of gaining Eugenius the East's blessing. Theodosius prepared an army instead and eventually the two met in battle. When the dust settled, Eugenius was dead and Arbogast fled the scene, reportedly committing suicide. This left Theodosius himself as emperor of the entire empire; this being the last such time this would happen.

Eugenius

Eugenius himself was apparently a scholar and respected former government administrator. He might have found favor with Theodosius had his pedigree not been tainted with Arbogast's role and had he not shown inclinations to favor paganism instead of Christianity. He is reported to have meant to turn the church in Mediolanum (Milan) into a stable for Arbogast's horses! This anecdote, however, might be but propaganda from the enemies of Eugenius. Bust:
1) Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right

Obverse:
1) DN EVGENIVS PF AVG

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) GLORIA ROMANORVM SPES ROMANORVM VICTORIA AVGG VICTORIA AVGGG VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM VIRTVS ROMANORVM VOT / V / MVLT / X VRBS ROMA

By the late fourth century the mints throughout the western empire begin shutting down one by one. Those that remain open for business slow production to a trickle. Rome, once the most prolific and important of mints also limps along with a skeleton crew that manufacture increasingly less skillfully made coins and then only erratically as metal becomes available. Eugenius may be one of the first emperors who becomes rare not on account of his length in office, over a years time, but rather because there just werent many coins made during this time. A few hardscrabble, tiny copper coins turn up on the market with some frequency. Silver siliquae, the most commonly found of his coins, tend to go from $200 to over $1,000 a piece.

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4)

Eugenius and Theodosius I seated, facing, together holding globe; between them, Victory above and palm below. Eugenius standing left, holding labarum and resting hand on shield. Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe and spear. Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm.

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Aquileia Arelate Lugdunum Mediolanum Roma Treveri

AU Solidus
1) 2) B1, O1, R3, T1, M3 Exe: L/D/COM B1, O1, R3, T1, M4 Exe: M/D/COM

Reference(s)
RIC 45 (IX, Lugdunum), C 6 RIC 28 (IX, Mediolanum), C 6

AU Tremissis
3) B1, O1, R5, T4, M6 Exe: T/R/COM RIC 103 (IX, Treveri), C 10

AR Miliarense
4) B1, O1, R1, T2, M6 Exe: TRPS RIC 104 (IX, Treveri), C 2

537
AR Siliqua
5) 6) 7) B1, O1, R6, T3, M4 Exe: MDPS B1, O1, R6, T3, M6 Exe: TRPS B1, O1, R8, T3, M3 Exe: LVGPS

Reference(s)
RIC 32c (IX, Mediolanum), C 14b RIC 106d (IX, Treveri), C 14a RIC 46 (IX, Lugdunum), C 18a

AE4
8) 9) B1, O1, R2, T4, M1 Exe: AQ` B1, O1, R4, T4, M2 Exe: CON RIC 59 (IX, Aquileia), L 1108 RIC 30f (IX, Arelate), C 8

Eugenius Bust

Eugenius Types

538
Honorius was born to Theodosius and Aelia Flaccilla in 384 and inherited the western part of the empire on his father's death (with the eastern half going to his elder brother Arcadius). During his lifetime Honorius witnessed wave after wave of barbarian invasions, each one more devastating than the previous one. In Augustus 394-423 404 he moved the imperial palace to a fortress in Ravenna. On cue, Rome was then sacked in 410 by the barbarian forces under the command of Alaric; a first in over 800 years. The Vandals would seize Northern Africa (Italy's bread basket) and various usurpers, most importantly Constantine III, sliced off huge sections of what remained of the Western empire for themselves. In the face of all these military and political catastrophes, Honorius was helpless and he never personally led any armies to counter the invasions and revolts. Still, against all odds, he managed to somewhat stabilize his dwindling domains by diplomatic means with the barbarians and by military action with the help of Constantius III against the usurpers. But he died in 423 leaving the empire significantly weaker and much smaller than when he became emperor.

Honorius

Busts:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust left Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed bust left wearing consular robes, holding mappa and scepter with eagle atop Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right, raising hand and holding Victory on globe Helmeted, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right Helmeted, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust facing holding spear and shield Helmeted, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust facing holding spear over shoulder and spear

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) DN HONORI AVG DN HONORIIVS PF AVG DN HONORIVS PF AVG DN ONORIVS PF AVG HONORIO AVGVSTO

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) ADVENTVS FN AVG CONCORDIA AVG CONCORDIA AVGG CONCORDIA AVGGG CONCORDIA NVGGG CONCORIA AVGG GLORIA ROMANORVM REPARATIO REIPVBL SALVS REIPVBLICAE TRIVMFATOR GENT BARB VICTORIA AAVGGG VICTORIA AVGG VICTORIA AVGGG VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM VICTORIA ROMANORVM VIRTVS EXERCITI VIRTVS EXERCITVM VIRTVS EXERCITVS VIRTVS ROMANORVM VOT / V / MVLT / X VOT / X / MVLT / XX VOT XX MVLT XXX VOT XXX MVLT XXXX VOTA PVBLICA VRBS ROMA VRBS ROMA FELIX No legend

During the reign of Honorius Roman coinage begins its final artistic slide. Already for over the last hundred years portraiture engraving had stopped the realistic representation of the emperors facial features. Instead, these portraits were now mere effigies frozen in time regardless of the emperors age. In fact, they all begin to look identical from emperor to emperor with the only thing changing being whats written between the DN and the PF AVG. In the fifth century the engraving artistry not only stops concerning itself with realistic portraiture but with everything else as well. Thus the designs become ever more abstract. Epigraphy, too, is another casualty of carelessness. Finally, the coins themselves are made on ever smaller and thinner modules made of increasingly cheaper alloys. The gold denominations, while suffering all the above faults in terms of artistic merit and overall craftsmanship, hold on meticulously to their customary weights and fineness because, being the armys pay, the life of the emperor himself depended on it. Blessed with a long if troubled reign, Honorius appears frequently and cheaply in the bronzes. These are by and large of the late fourth century. With the start of the fifth these too mostly disappear from the radar and those that are left in attributable condition are the small AE4 class which often measure no more than 7-10mm across and often smaller. Siliquae are not rare but are typically found heavily clipped making certain attribution difficult or impossible. And then there are the gold Solidi and Tremisses which while not exactly plentiful are always available. The Solidus is the more common of the two and a typical specimen usually goes for between $400-$600.

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter and Victory on globe Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter and shield reading XX/ VOT / XXX Cross Honorius and Arcadius seated, facing, each holding a mappa and scepter with eagle atop; palm between them. Honorius and Arcadius standing, facing, each holding a scepter and resting hand on shield. Honorius riding horse right, raising hand. Honorius riding six-horse chariot, oncoming, raising hand and holding globe Honorius seated, facing, holding mappa and scepter with eagle atop. Honorius standing left, holding scepter and resting hand on shield; being crowned by Victory to right, holding palm Honorius standing left, holding Victory on globe and labarum

539
11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) Honorius standing right, dragging captive and raising hand; kneeling captive to right Honorius standing right, stepping on captive, holding labarum and Victory on globe Honorius standing right, stepping on captive, holding vexillum reading VOT / X and shield reading MVL / XX Honorius standing, facing, holding labarum and globe Honorius standing, facing, holding labarum and globe; kneeling captive to left Honorius standing, facing, holding spear and resting hand on shield. Honorius standing, facing, raising hand and holding globe Honorius standing, facing, stepping on lion, holding scepter with christogram atop and parazonium, being crowned by Hand of God Honorius, Theodosius II and Arcadius standing, facing, each holding a scepter Roma and Constantinopolis seated, facing each other, together holding shield reading VOT / XXX / MVLT / XXXX; palm between them. Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe and spear. Roma seated, facing, holding globe and spear Roma seated, facing, holding Victory on globe and spear Roma standing, facing, holding trophy and Victory; shield to right Victory advancing forward, holding wreath and globe Victory advancing left, holding trophy and dragging captive. Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. Victory advancing right, holding wreath and cross on globe. Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / V / MVLT / X; Genius to lower right also holding shield. Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XX Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XX; Genius to lower right also holding shield. Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / XX / MVLT / XXX; Genius to lower right also holding shield. Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / XXX / MVLT / XXXX; Genius to lower right also holding shield. Victory seated right, holding shield reading XV / XX Victory seated right, holding shield reading XX / XXX Victory standing left, holding cross Wreath, VOT / V / MVLT / X within Wreath, VOT / X / MVLT / XV within Wreath, VOT / X / MVLT / XX within Wreath, VOT / XV / MVLT / XX within

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Alexandria Antioch Aquileia Arelate Constantinopolis 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) Cyzicus Heraclea Lugdunum Mediolanum Nicomedia 11) 12) 13) 14) Ravenna Roma Sirmium Thessalonica

AU Solidus
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) B2, O3, R13, T12, M11 Exe: R/V/COMOB B2, O3, R13, T12, M12 Exe: R/M/COMOB B2, O3, R13, T12, M09 Exe: M/D/COMOB B2, O3, R13, T12, M13 Exe: S/M/COMOB B6, O3, R13, T18, M11 Exe: R/V/COB B7, O3, R27, T20, M11 Exe: R/V/COMOB B8, O3, R03, T01, M05 Exe: */CONOB B8, O3, R03, T01, M05 Exe: */CONOB B8, O3, R03, T01, M14 Exe: */COMOB B8, O3, R03, T01, M14 Exe: */TESOB B8, O3, R03, T01, M14 Exe: COMOB B8, O3, R04, T01, M05 Exe: CONOB

Reference(s)
RIC 1287 (X, Honorius) RIC 1252 (X, Honorius) RIC 1206 (X, Honorius) RIC 2 (X, Arcadius) RIC 1310 (X, Honorius) RIC 1332 (X, Honorius)

Officina at end of reverse legend

Officina at end of reverse legend

RIC 8 (X, Arcadius) RIC 348 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 359 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 38 (X, Arcadius) RIC 24 (X, Arcadius)

AU Semissis
13) B2, O3, R14, T31, M11 Exe: R/V/COMOB RIC 1334 (X, Honorius)

AU Tremissis
14) 15) B2, O3, R14, T28, M09 Exe: M/D/COMOB B2, O3, R14, T28, M11 Exe: R/V/COMOB RIC 1215 (X, Honorius) RIC 1289 (X, Honorius)

AR Miliarense
16) B1, O3, R07, T17, M05 Exe: */CON RIC 369 (X, Theodosius II)

AR Siliqua
17) 18) 19) B2, O3, R13, T27, M09 Exe: MD B2, O3, R19, T21, M09 Exe: MDPS B2, O3, R19, T21, M12 Exe: RMPS RIC 1234 (X, Honorius) RIC 32d (IX, Mediolanum) RIC 1267 (X, Honorius)

AE2
20) 21) 22) 23) 24) B2, O3, R07, T14, M02 Exe: ANT` B2, O3, R07, T14, M06 Exe: SMK` B2, O3, R07, T14, M07 Exe: SMH` B2, O3, R07, T14, M10 Exe: SMN` B2, O3, R07, T15, M05 Exe: CONS` RIC 68e (IX, Antioch), L 2784 RIC 28c (IX, Cyzicus) RIC 27c (IX, Heraclea), L 1988 RIC 46c (IX, Nicomedia) RIC 88c (IX, Constantinopolis)

540
AE3
25) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) B2, O3, R07, T05, M05 Exe: CONS` B2, O3, R07, T05, M14 Exe: TES` B2, O3, R07, T06, M02 Exe: ANT` B2, O3, R07, T11, M12 Exe: SMR` B2, O3, R07, T19, M02 Exe: ANT` B2, O3, R07, T19, M06 Exe: SMK` B2, O3, R16, T09, M01 Exe: ALE` B2, O3, R16, T09, M02 Exe: ANT` B2, O3, R16, T09, M05 Exe: CONS` B2, O3, R16, T09, M05 Exe: SMK` B2, O3, R16, T09, M10 Exe: SMN` B8, O3, R03, T01, M05 Exe: CONS` * behind bust * behind bust * behind bust * behind bust

Reference(s)
RIC 399 (X, Theodosius II), L 2223 RIC 395 (X, Theodosius II), L 1876 RIC 69e (IX, Antiochia) RIC 1357 (X, Honorius), L 827 RIC 153 (X, Arcadius), L 2802 RIC 149 (X, Arcadius), L 2591 RIC 76 (X, Arcadius), L 2913 RIC 72 (X, Arcadius), L 2793 RIC 61c (IX, Constantinopolis), L 2206 RIC 68 (X, Arcadius) RIC 63 (X, Arcadius) RIC 87 (X, Arcadius)

AE4
37) 38) B2, O3, R07, T05, M06 Exe: SMK` B2, O3, R09, T26, M03 Exe: AQ` * behind bust RIC 403 (X, Theodosius II), L 2598 RIC 1238 (X, Honorius), L 1113

Honorius Busts

Honorius Types

541
Of no relation whatsoever to the Constantinian dynasty of the previous century, Constantine was a common soldier based in Britain. He was acclaimed emperor by his fellow soldiers in 407 after Germanic tribes posed an imminent threat that Rome was unwilling to deal with. It seems he then gathered these soldiers, Augustus 407-411 abandons Britain and settles in Arelate. Soon after he names his son co-emperor, renames him Constans (again, to keep appearances) and sets off to consolidate and expand his territory. Constantine is then able to subdue Spain into his domain but loses it shortly afterwards when a revolt has Maximus (son of a powerful general) named emperor. Unable to meet this new threat, Constantine then flees but is captured and executed. As with most other usurpers, this renegade emperor also depended on provincial mints to strike coins. Fifth century usurpers are all the more rare because the Roman economy was Busts: in a tailspin. For this reason base metal coinage, that which is 1) Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right most suitable for small-scale commerce, is rarest of all while 2) Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right precious metal coins just had to be made to pay the soldiers. Without a supply of silver and gold no man would risk his life on Obverses: the battlefield and, in fact, when the strongmen ran out of gold 1) DN CONSTANTINVS PF AVG they had to assume they were in grave danger.

Constantine III

2) 3)

FL CL CONSTANTINVS PF AVG FL CL CONSTANTINVS AVG

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) CONCORDIA AVGGGG RESTITVTOR REIPVBLICAE VICTORIA AAAVGGGG VICTORIA AAVGGG VICTORIA AVGGG

Considering all this a coin of Constantine III is not surprisingly a rarity. However, among rarities his are not among the rarest. There are a fair number of Solidi and Siliquae still extant and they come to market fairly regularly. A Siliqua may be expected to cost $500-$1,000 while the Solidus trades between $2,500 to over $5,000.

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Constantine III standing right, holding labarum and Victory on globe. Constantine III standing right, stepping on seated captive, holding labarum and Victory on globe. Cross; Alpha and Omega on either side. Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe and spear. Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. Victory advancing right, holding wreath and palm.

Mints:
1) 2) Arelate Lugdunum 3) 4) Trier Uncertain

AU Solidus
1) 2) B1, O1, R4, T2, M3 Exe: TROBS B2, O1, R3, T2, M2 Exe: L/D/COMOB

Reference(s)
RIC X 1514 RIC X 1505

AR Siliqua
3) 4) 5) B1, O1, R4, T4, M1 Exe: SMAR B1, O1, R4, T4, M2 Exe: SMLD B1, O1, R4, T4, M3 Exe: TRMS RIC X 1538 RIC X 1531 RIC X 1533

Constantine III Busts

Constantine III Types

542

Constans II
Augustus c.409-411

Not to be confused with the better known "Constans II" of the Byzantine period, Constans was the son of usurper Constantine III who rebelled against Honorius from his base in Britain. Constantine III racked up several early military successes and added Gaul and Spain to his domains. At the height of his glory days he elevated his son to co-emperor clearly showing his dynastic aspirations.

Constans, whose real name prior to accession is unknown, was sent to Spain to quell a loyalist revolt. While the revolt was suppressed in short order, Constans left the independent-minded Gerontius in charge of the region before returning to Gaul. This proved a mistake for Gerontius would within another year declare his own independence and inveigh his son, Maximus, with the imperial title. This break in rank played into Honorius' game plan as the two factions began warring each other and weakening in the process. When the time was right Honorius sent his ablest general, Constantius III, to deal the final blow to both and thereby recoup all lost territories with the exception of Britain which he decided to abandon for lack of resources. Bust:
1) Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right

Obverse:
1) DN CONSTANS PF AVG

Making the top 10 list of rarest of Roman emperors is this Constans person of whom we know only that he was the son of the rank-and-file soldier-turned-emperor Constantine III. There is but one worn coin of his in the entire British Museum collection. It is like this one pictured below which went unsold on Ebay in 2003 because it did not meet a reserve set at $7,000. It would have been a steal at that price considering no other coins of this emperor have been offered for sale by any major auction house for several decades.

Reverse:
1) VICTORIA AVGGG

Type:
1) Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe and spear.

Mints:
1) 2) Arelate Treveri

AR Siliqua
1) B1, O1, R1, T1, M1 Exe: KONT

Reference(s)
RIC 1540 (X, Constantine III)

543
Following the usurpation of Constantine III, Spain was caught in the difficult decision of whether to support the insurgency or remain loyal to Rome. Constantine III abandoned Britain carrying with him most of his forces to settle in Gaul so as to consolidate his power base in the Augustus 409-411 region. He sent a detachment into Spain and the province readily seceded and sided with Constantine. However, the occupying forces of Constantine in Spain soon faced internal power struggles with local barbarian tribes. When word of this strife reached Constantine a delegation was sent to Spain to intervene. Gerontius, leader of the occupying forces, feared that this delegation was nothing but a secondary force sent for his own head. In a pre-emptive move he elevated one of his handpicked men, Maximus, who was possibly his own son, to Augustus.

Maximus

Maximus and Gerontius then went on the offensive and managed to capture and kill Constans, Constantine's son and co-emperor, and then went on to siege Constantine himself. However, Constantius III arrived with a much larger army and Gerontius abandoned the siege knowing that to Honorius Maximus was a usurper just as much as Constantine. They then rushed back to Spain where Gerontius was finally located by Honorius's men and committed suicide. Maximus himself escaped with his life and blended into the barbarian background. Some years later a Maximus, possibly this same one, was captured and executed for trying to instigate a rebellion. Bust:
1) Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right

Obverse:
1) DN MAXIMVS PF AVG

Supposedly there are only 20 or so coins extant for this short-lived emperor. And theres no reason to think that their owners are much in a hurry to part with their treasures. In fact, a good portion of these are in museums, not private hands. When they come up for sale, which is not that often, its a sellers market with prices going well into the thousands.

Reverse:
1) VICTORIA AVGGG

Types:
1) 2) 3) Maximus standing left, holding hand of kneeling woman and Victory on globe. Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe and spear Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm

Mint:
1) Barcino

AR Siliqua
1) B1, O1, R1, T2 Exe: SMBA

Reference(s)
RIC X 1601

AE3
2) B1, O1, R1, T3 Exe: SMBA RIC X 1604

Maximus Bust

Maximus Types

544
Priscus Attalus was the first of several puppet emperors in the final lap of the Roman empire. He was a prominent Senator when Rome fell under Alaric's siege. In the wake of the pillaging that ensued, Alaric appointed him to the post in usurpation of Honorius whose court and castle was in Augustus 409-410 & 414-415 Ravenna. While Honorius tentatively recognized Attalus as a colleague he wouldn't cave in to Alaric's demands for territory handover. Militarily unable to topple Honorius and unsatisfied with mere diplomatic recognition, Alaric seized what he could and left Rome with Attalus and Galla Placidia, Honorius's sister. Diplomatic activity continued between the two but Alaric died and negotiations continued under Ataulf, Alaric's brother-in-law.

Priscus Attalus

Ataulf was stonewalled by Honorius in much the same fashion and saw that he'd have to switch strategies if his ends were to be met. He tried an alliance with Jovinus, usurper under Guntiarius, but these negotiations failed as well. So he moved his forces against the Jovinus-Sebastianus coalition, defeated them and re-installed Attalus as emperor. But by this time Honorius had recovered somewhat and was able to move against Ataulf under the leadership of Constantius III. Constantius blockaded Ataulf's supply route and, seeing that his position was untenable, retreated leaving Attalus to fend for himself. Attalus was captured in short order, mutilated and then exiled. Busts:
1) 2) Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) IMP PRISCVS ATTALVS PF AVG PRISC ATTALVS PF AVG PRISCVS ATTALVS AVG

Making the top twenty list of rarest emperors, and maybe the top ten, is Priscus Attalus whose accounted-for coins number less than 50 across all denominations and metal types. Every few years one turns up and passes, presumably, from one wealthy collectors bank vault into the next. The Siliqua pictured in this section was purchased by the author on eBay for $2,700 in 2003 which is an aberration both on price (a bargain) as well as venue as this sort of rarity usually appears as highlight offerings by elite coin firms and auction houses.

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) INVICTA ROMA AETERNA RESTITVTIO REIP VICTORIA AVGG VICTORIA AVGGG VICTORIA AVGVSTI VICTORIA ROMANORVM No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) Priscus Attalus standing left, holding hand of kneeling woman and labarum Priscus Attalus standing right, stepping on captive, holding labarum and Victory on globe. Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe and spear. Roma seated, facing, holding Victory on globe and spear. Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm Victory advancing right, holding trophy and shield Wreath, VOT / V / MVLT / X within

Mints:
1) 2) Narbo Martius Roma

AR Medallion
1) B2, O2, R1, T4, M2 Exe: RMPS

Reference(s)
RIC X 1408

AR Siliqua
2) B1, O2, R1, T3, M2 Exe: */PST RIC X 1412

AE3
3) B1, O2, R6, T5, M2 Exe: * over OF/`/SMVRM RIC X 1414

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Priscus Attalus Busts Priscus Attalus Types

An obscure emperor whose rise to power coincided with most troubling times for the empire. Rome had just been sacked for the first time in over 800 years, Spain had seceded under their own ruler as had Britain under Constantine III and the Vandals were overruning Northern Africa. To add to this loss, Guntiarius, leader Augustus 411-413 of several barbarian bands seized control of parts of Gaul and Germany when Constantius III defeated the forces of Constantine III but had to head back towards Italy for problems there. Guntiarius chose Jovinus, an aristocrat of Gallic origins, to act as figurehead and diplomatic chip. Before he had had enough time to exhaust recognition or an alliance with Honorius, Ataulf, a rival barbarian leader, decimated his forces and captured Jovinus who was subsequently beheaded along with his brother and co-Augustus Sebastianus.

Jovinus

Bust:
1) Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right

Obverse:
1) DN IOVINVS PF AVG

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) RESTITVTOR REIP VICTORIA AVGG No legend

Among the very rare set of emperors in the fifth century who ruled out of Italy, Jovinus is one of the easier to find and affordable. His Siliquae make appearances once or twice a year among the better stocked coin dealers and on the major coin catalogs. The going rate for one of these seems to be from $1,000 to $3,000 with condition only playing a minor role. When wealthy collectors fight with their wallets over a lonely coin that cant be found elsewhere illogical things tend to happen! This reign, which extends to encompass that of Sebastianus, either did not make any bronze coins or those that were made were so few that none have survived. None, at least, in any sort of condition that would allow one to attrinbute them.

Types:
1) 2) 3)

Cross, Alpha and Omega on either side. Jovinus standing right, stepping on captive, holding labarum and Victory on globe. Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe and spear.

Mints:
1) 2) 3) Arelate Lugdunum Treveri

AU Solidus
1) B1, O1, R1, T2, M1 Exe: A/R/KONOB

Reference(s)

AR Siliqua
2) 3) 4) 5) B1, O1, R2, T3, M1 Exe: KONT B1, O1, R2, T3, M2 Exe: SMLDV B1, O1, R2, T3, M3 Exe: TRMS B1, O1, R2, T3, M3 Exe: TRPS RIC X 1721 RIC X 1717 RIC X 1711 RIC X 1710

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Jovinus Bust Jovinus Types

Shadowiest of the shadow emperors, all that is known about Sebastianus is that he was the brother of equally obscure Jovinus. Jovinus was the puppet emperor of a conglomeration of germanic and gallic tribes loosely headed by a certain Guntiarius. With their help and in the interest of keeping Augustus c.412-413 political formalities, they elevated him to "emperor" and coinage was struck in his name. But there was little, if any power to be wielded by him beyond palace gesturing. It was under these conditions that one of the few acts as emperor would be to crown his brother as "co-emperor". Still, Honorius and a host of other tribes took the happenings seriously enough and considered the German-Gallic area under their nominal custody a runaway province. Ataulf, now in league with Honorius, sent a large force which easily located and defeated Sebastianus and then Jovinus (along with another brother, Sallustius). They were beheaded and their heads triumphantly paraded all the way to the court of Honorius in Ravenna.

Sebastianus

Bust:
1) Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right

Obverse:
1) DN SEBASTIANVS PF AVG

Another impossibly rare emperor, Sebastianus is likely the rarest of the fifth century Roman emperors though it is difficult to tell for certain; the other contenders in this category being Constans II, Glycerius and Olybrius none of whom appear in even the most eclectic auction venues except for very rare occasions. In November of 2000 the auction firm Numismatik Lanz sold the coin below for $19,074 minus buyers fees.

Reverse:
1) VICTORIA AVGG

Type:
1) Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and spear.

Mint:
1) Arelate

AR Siliqua
1) B1, O1, R1, T1, M1 Exe: KON

Reference(s)

547
Constantius III was a general under Honorius. It was thanks to him and his armies that the usurpers Constantine III, Constans II and Maximus were defeated and their domains returned to the empire. As recognition for these triumphs Honorius gave him his sister, Galla Placidia, in marriage and made him co-emperor in 421. Augustus 421 However, Theodosius II out in the eastern half of the empire would not recognize Constantius. To assert his title, Constantius then prepared to take on Theodosius but became ill and died before plans could materialize. Galla became pregnant before his death and their son Valentinian III would in a few years become emperor himself.

Constantius III

Busts:
1) 2) Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right

Obverses:
1) DN CONSTANTIVS PF AVG

In power for only about half a year, and a year in which not many coins seem to have been struck at that, adds up to one of the great rarities in Roman Imperial coinage. Over the last several years only two seem to have come up for sale. One was a Solidus sold at auction for over $24,000 and the other a controversial Siliqua for a tenth that much. The controversy stems around an odd exergue marking, SMN, which would possibly indicate Sacra Moneta Narbonensis. Priscus Attalus had used the city as an imperial seat a few years before and had struck some coins from here. However, Honorius, Constantius IIIs patron, is not known to have minted any coins from here himself so it seems odd. The coin itself appears genuine however. It is listed here with the caveat that the exergue, which is only partially readable, may read something else entirely or have an unconventional arrangement that indicates Ravenna which would be the most likely location. It certainly does not refer to Nicomedia which was very far from his sphere of control. Reference(s)
RIC 1325 (X, Honorius)

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) VICTORIA AVGGG VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM VICTORIA ROMANORVM

Types:
1) 2) 3) Constantius III standing right, stepping on captive, holding labarum and Victory on globe. Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. Victory advancing right, holding wreath and cross on globe.

Mint:
1) 2) Narbo Martius Ravenna

AU Solidus
1) B2, O1, R1, T1, M2 Exe: R/V/COMOB

AR Siliqua
2) B1, O1, R3, T2, M1 Exe: SMN

Constantius III Busts

Constantius III Types

548
Galla Placidia led probably the most dramatic life of any empress. She was the daughter of Theodosius and halfsister of both Honorius and Arcadius. While living in Rome during the sacking of 410, she was kidnapped by Alaric and taken to Carthage. Although Alaric died soon b.388 - d.450 afterwards, his successor, Athaulf, went on to Gaul with the intention of eventually deposing Honorius. In transit he forcibly married Galla, most likely to strengthen his claim to a would-be throne. He was defeated and chased out of Gaul, along with her, into Spain where he died in 415. At this point another rival barbarian leader, Singeric, captured her and the remaining Roman entourage that left Rome five years previously. However, Singeric and his forces were outmaneuvered by Constantius III, key general under Honorius and forced into a treaty which gained Galla's release. She then married Constantius III as part of his reward for his battle successes. But Constantius III died a couple of years later and, in what was to be a scandal not seen since the days of Commodus, Honorius took a rather unhealthy liking to his half sister. The scandal only ended with his death for unrelated reasons.

Galla Placidia

Galla, who Honorius had exiled just prior to his death (as part of his damage control program), now wandered towards Constantinople with her son Valentinian III. She arrived at the court of Theodosius II who saw a perfect pretext to meddle in the affairs of the West. By proclaiming his support of her through Valentinian as the rightful heir to the throne, he moved militarily in a coup that deposed Johannes, Honorius's successor. Johannes was executed and Valentinian III was restored as the nominal emperor although it was understood that Galla was the real power behind the throne. In turn, Theodosius was able to exert considerable influence over both. With Valentinian's growing older and external pressures her influence waned. Not long after Valentinian married she retired from politics and spent the rest of her life devoted to charitable works. Busts:
1) 2) Diademed, draped bust right Diademed, draped bust right, being crowned by Hand of God

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) AEL PLACIDIA AVG DN GALLA PLACIDIA AVG GALLA PLACIDIA AVG

Difficult to find and expensive to obtain about sums it up for this and following First Ladies of the later Roman empire. Curiously, the least expensive (and rare) coins will be the gold denominations followed by silver and last the lowly bronze which by now is next to impossible to find in anything but crude lumps of cheap, leaded alloys that have only the faintest portrait outlines and legends. When that rare one comes up for sale that has halfway decent features collectors line up to get their hands on it. A Tremissis will start at around $1,000 and a Solidus for $2,500 to over $10,000.

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) CONCORDIA AVG IMP XXXXII COS XVII PP SALVS REIPVBLICAE SALVS REIPVBLICE VOT XX MVLT XXX VOT XXX MVLT XXXX No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) Constantinopolis seated left, holding cross on globe and scepter; shield to side. Cross Galla Placidia seated, facing Roma seated left, holding cross on globe and scepter Valentinian III seated, facing, holding mappa Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. Victory seated right, holding shield with Chi-Rho design Victory standing left, holding cross; star above. Wreath, Chi-Rho within Wreath, cross within

Mints:
1) 2) 3) Constantinopolis Ravenna Roma

AU Solidus
1) 2) 3) B2, O1, R5, T08, M1 Exe: CONOB B2, O2, R3, T07, M2 Exe: R/V/COMOB B2, O2, R5, T08, M2 Exe: R/V/COMOB

Reference(s)
Officina at end of reverse legend
RIC 230 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 1333 (X, Valentinian III) RIC 2012 (X, Valentinian III)

549
4) 5) B2, O2, R5, T08, M3 Exe: R/M/COMOB B2, O3, R6, T04, M1 Exe: CONOB

Officina at end of reverse legend

RIC 2007 (X, Valentinian III) RIC 263 (X, Theodosius II)

AU Tremissis
6) B1, O2, R7, T09, M2 Exe: COMOB RIC 1343 (X, Valentinian III)

AR Siliqua
7) 8) B1, O2, R3, T07, M2 Exe: RVPS B1, O2, R7, T09, M2 Exe: RV RIC 2082 (X, Valentinian III) RIC 2092 (X, Valentinian III)

AE4
9) B2, O2, R4, T2, M3 Exe: RM RIC 2113 (X, Valentinian III), L 857

Galla Placidia Busts

Galla Placidia Types

Johannes was a high-ranking civil servant under Honorius. When the emperor died there was no clear successor and Johannes was proclaimed Augustus with the help and approval of a former Honorius general. Johannes's title was immediately contested by Theodosius II who stood to gain politically by aligning himself with Augustus 423-425 Constantius III's widow, Galla Placidia, and her infant son Valentinian III. Accordingly, an army was sent to crush Johannes and he was captured, publicly ridiculed, mutilated and then executed.

Johannes

During the latter part of Honoriuss reign and after his death a slew of obscure emperors had been taking their turn at claiming the imperial title. However, Johannes is the first successor who manages to stay on the position long enough for any appreciable amount of coins to be struck for him. But thats not to say a coin of Johannes is trivially easy to come by. While a bronze of Honorius is cheap and easy to find that generally holds true because early in his reign small bronzes were still being made in great quantities. By the time of his death however the production of base coinage had slowed to a trickle. And these are decidedly cruder in style and craftsmanship. Oddly enough ones best hope of finding a coin of his is among the very small coins offered for sale as uncleaned. Among these very difficult to restore coins a Johannes turns up every now and then. Almost never will they have more than a few letters visible but sometimes can be positively IDd based on a portrait that is bearded or the abstracted form of a Victory on the reverse coupled with misshapen letters; that is, if any are still legible! These coins, when attributable, are always worth a few hundred dollars with surviving condition being the most important variable. A coin with a readable part of his name will command a hefty premium. Silver and gold coins will appear with some regularity on the catalogs of coin dealers and auction houses but priced well out of reach of the budget of most collectors.

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Busts:
1) 2) Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right

Obverse:
1) DN IOHANNES PF AVG

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) SALVS REIPVBLICE VICTORIA AVGG VICTORIA AVGGG 4) 5) VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM VRBS ROMA

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) Johannes standing right, stepping on captive, holding labarum and Victory on globe. Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe and spear Victory advancing left, holding trophy and dragging captive Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm Victory advancing right, holding wreath and cross on globe Victory seated right, holding shield on column with Chi-Ro inside; Genius below and to right also holding shield. Victory standing left, holding wreath and palm

Mints:
1) 2) Arelate Mediolanum 3) 4) Ravenna Roma

AU Solidus
1) B2, O1, R3, T1, M3 Exe: R/V/COMOB

Reference(s)
RIC X 1901

AU Semissis
2) B2, O1, R4, T6 Exe: COMOB RIC X 1903

AU Tremissis
3) B2, O1, R4, T5, M3 Exe: R/V/COMOB RIC X 1904

AE4
4) 5) 6) 7) B1, O1, R2, T4, M4 Exe: `/RM B1, O1, R1, T3, M4 Exe: over `/RM B1, O1, R1, T3, M4 Exe: `RM B1, O1, R1, T3, M4 Exe: /RM` RIC X 1910 RIC X 1916, L 833 RIC X 1920, L 837 RIC X 1923, L 838

Johannes Busts

Johannes Types

551
The grandson of Valentinian II, Valentinian III was the son of Constantius III (who in turn had no relation to the Constantines). He grew up like royalty and became Caesar, then emperor very early in life. However, he had no real power as first his mother and then the general Aetius restricted his ability to rule by imposing Augustus 425-455 their own will. Apparently in an effort to rid himself of the influence of Aetius he managed to get the general assassinated but rather than free him, Aetius's bodyguard avenged his murder by killing the emperor a few months later.

Valentinian III

Busts:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed bust left, wearing consular robes, holding mappa and cross Diademed bust left, wearing consular robes, holding mappa and scepter with eagle atop Helmeted, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and shield Helmeted, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right, holding spear and shield Helmeted, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right

Although the listings below show a rather lengthy corpus the fact is that outside of a Solidus or two the coins of Valentinian III are much rarer than a thirty-year reign might suggest. And if that Solidus could be considered common, which it really isnt, it is only because it was being struck by prolific moneyer Theodosius II in faraway Constantinople. The issues struck in Italy are for the most part pretty rare and expensive. Bronzes are also difficult to come by. Oddly, it is easier to find an AE4 of Johannes, who ruled less than two years, than one of Valentinian. Even odder, despite being rarer the Johannes AE4s are always worth a lot more anyway! However, affordability aside, do not expect his bronzes to be exactly objets dart as they are invariably poorly preserved and with most features obliterated. Whatever is left will likely have been shoddily done in the first place making attribution a nightmare. Well, at least theres that eastern-mint Solidus which is found easily enough and should cost around $600 each.

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) DN PL VALENTINIANVS PF AG DN PL VALENTINIANVS PF AVG DN PLA VALENTINIANVS PF AVG DN PLACIDVS VALENTINIANVS PF AVG DN VAL CHA DN VALEN AVG DN VALENTINIANO PF AVG DN VALENTINIANVS PF AVG

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) ADVENT S S DN AVG CAS VIC CONCORDIA AVG CONCORDIA AVGV FELICITER NVBTIIS GLORIA ROMANORVM IMP XXXXII COS XVII PP INVICTISSIMO ROMA 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) SALVS REIPVBLICAE SALVS REIPVBLICE VICTO AVG VICTOR AVGVS VICTORIA AGG VICTORIA AVG VICTORIA AVGG VICTORIA AVGGG VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) VIRTVS ROMANORVM VOT PVB VOT X MVLT XX VOT XX MVLT XXX VOT XXX MVLT XXXX VOTIS XXX MVLTIS XXXX VRBIS ROMA VRBS ROMA No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) City gate with (2) turrets. Constantinopolis seated left, holding cross on globe and scepter; shield to side. Cross Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and spear Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe and cross. Roma seated, facing, holding globe and scepter. Valentinian III advancing right, dragging captive and holding labarum. Valentinian III and Licinia Eudoxia standing, facing, holding hands with Theodosius II between and behind them, hands on their shoulders Valentinian III and Theodosius II seated, facing, each holding mappa and cross; star above. Valentinian III and Theodosius II seated, facing, each holding spear and cross between them Valentinian III and Theodosius II standing, facing, together holding a cross and each a spear Valentinian III riding horse left, raising hand Valentinian III seated, facing, holding mappa and cross Valentinian III seated, facing, holding mappa and scepter with eagle atop. Valentinian III standing, facing, holding hand of kneeling person to left and holding scepter with crossed tip. Valentinian III standing, facing, holding labarum and Christogram on globe Valentinian III standing, facing, stepping on human-headed snake, holding cross and Victory on globe. Valentinian III to left, standing, facing, holding mappa and scepter with crossed tip and Licinia Eudoxia to right, standing, facing, holding cross Valentinian III to right, standing, facing, holding cross on globe and globe, being crowned by Hand of God, facing Theodosius II to left, standing, facing, holding cross and globe Victories (2) standing, facing each other, together holding palm Victory advancing forward, holding wreath and cross on globe. Victory advancing forward, holding wreath in each hand Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. Victory advancing right, dragging captive and holding trophy Victory advancing right, holding wreath and cross on globe. Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT/X/MVLT/XX on column; Genius below and to right also holding shield. Victory seated right, holding shield reading XV/ XX Victory standing left, holding cross Victory standing, facing, holding wreath in each hand.

552
30) 31) 32) 33) Wreath, Chi-Rho within Wreath, cross within Wreath, VOT / XV within Wreath, VOT / XX within

Mints:
1) 2) 3) Aquileia Constantinopolis Cyzicus 4) 5) 6) Mediolanum Ravenna Roma 7) 8) Thessalonica Treveri

AU Medallion
1) B1, O7, R01, T12, M02 Exe: */CONOB

Reference(s)

AU Solidus
2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) B1, O3, R16, T19, M06 Exe: R/M/COMOB B1, O3, R17, T17, M06 Exe: R/M/COMOB B2, O3, R17, T17, M04 Exe: M/D/COMOB B2, O3, R17, T17, M05 Exe: R/V/COMOB B2, O3, R17, T17, M06 Exe: R/M/COMOB B3, O3, R21, T13, M06 Exe: R/M/COMOB B5, O8, R07, T02, M02 Exe: */COMOB B7, O3, R05, T08, M07 Exe: COMOB RIC 2002 (X, Valentinian III) RIC 2005 (X, Valentinian III) RIC 2025 (X, Valentinian III) RIC 2010 (X, Valentinian III) RIC 2006 (X, Valentinian III) RIC 2034 (X, Valentinian III) RIC 315 (X, Theodosius II)

AU Semissis
10) B2, O3, R18, T26, M05 Exe: R/V/COMOB RIC 2050 (X, Valentinian III)

AU Tremissis
11) 12) 13) B1, O3, R27, T31, M04 Exe: COMOB B1, O8, R18, T21, M02 Exe: */COMOB B2, O3, R27, T31, M05 Exe: COMOB RIC 2031 (X, Valentinian III) RIC 251 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 2064 (X, Valentinian III)

AR Siliqua
14) B1, O3, R16, T23, M05 Exe: RV RIC 2085 (X, Valentinian III)

AE3
15) B6, O8, R04, T11, M02 Exe: CON RIC 461 (X, Theodosius II)

AE4
16) 17) 18) 19) 20) B1, O3, R11, T23, M06 Exe: `/RM B1, O5, R16, T23, M06 Exe: ROM B1, O8, R15, T23, M06 Exe: */RM B1, O8, R16, T20, M06 Exe: `/RM B1, O8, R20, T01, M06 Exe: RSM RIC 2110 (X, Valentinian III) RIC 2158 (X, Valentinian III), L 865 RIC 2122 (X, Valentinian III) RIC 2132 (X, Valentinian III), L 860 RIC 2123 (X, Valentinian III)

553
Valentinian III Busts

Valentinian III Types

554
The wife of Valentinian III, when her husband was killed, Petronius Maximus, the successor, forced her to marry him. This outrage she never forgave him. In fact, she made an appeal to Gaiseric of the Vandals and all of the Roman empire was to suffer for her vengeance. Gaiseric ? c.493 sailed off from his home base in Africa and plundered Rome and its few remaining cities. Licinia was carried off as part of the loot but was later returned to the emperor Leo in Constantinople where she lived for the remainder of her life.

Licinia Eudoxia

Busts:
1) 2) 3) Diademed, draped bust right Diademed, draped bust right, being crowned by Hand of God Diademed, facing bust wearing necklace and imperial dress

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) AEL EVDOXIA AVG DN ELIA EVDOXIA PF AVG LICINIA EVDOXIA PF AVG

On the whole, coins featuring Roman empresses are rare. Of these, those of the Western half of the empire are considerably rarer than the Eastern. And of the paltry few coins left of Western Roman empresses those of Licinia are exceptionally rare. Only Euphemia, the wife of Anthemius, is more elusive. Her known coins are all gold denominations and the lucky few collectors who can say they own one will not part with these minor treasures for cheap. On the occasions they show up at auction these coins always realize prices in excess of $5,000 regardless of condition.

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) IMP XXXXII COS XVII PP SALVS ORIENTIS FELICITAS OCCIDENTIS SALVS REIPVBLICAE VICTORIA AVGG VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM VOT XXX MVLT XXXX No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Constantinopolis seated left, holding cross on globe and scepter. Licinia Eudoxia and Valentinian III standing, facing; she holds scepter, he holds mappa and scepter. Licinia Eudoxia seated, facing, holding cross on globe and scepter with crossed tip. Victory standing left, holding cross. Wreath, Chi-Rho within Wreath, cross within.

Mints:
1) 2) 3) Constantinopolis Ravenna Roma

AU Solidus
1) 2) 3) B2, O1, R6, T1, M1 Exe: */CONOB B2, O2, R3, T4, M2 Exe: R/V/COMOB B3, O3, R6, T2, M3 Exe: R/M/COMOB

Reference(s)
RIC 264 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 2046 (X, Valentinian III)

Licinia Eudoxia Busts

Licinia Eudoxia Types

555

Honoria
? - d.454
Busts:
1) 2) Diademed, draped bust right Diademed, draped bust right; Hand of God above

Justa Gratia Honoria was the sister of Valentinian III and daughter of Galla Placidia.

Obverse:
1) DN IVST GRAT HONORIA PF AVG

The house of Valentinian III was not short on women involved in the politics of the day. But it was short on those same womens likenesses being cast onto coins. Like Licinia Eudoxia in the previous section, Honoria is known through a handful of gold coins but no bronzes. A Tremissis or Solidus comes up for sale every once in a great while for a few thousand dollars each.

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) BONO REIPVBLICAE SALVS REIPVBLICAE No legend

Types:
1) 2) Victory standing left, holding cross; star above. Wreath, cross within

Mints:
1) 2) Ravenna Roma

AU Solidus
1) B2, O1, R1, T1, M2 Exe: R/V/COMOB

Reference(s)
RIC 2022 (X, Valentinian III)

AU Tremissis
2) B1, O1, R3, T2, M2 Exe: COMOB RIC 2068 (X, Valentinian III)

Honoria Busts

Honoria Types

556
Petronius Maximus was one of the most powerful and wealthy politicians of Rome during the fifth century. Following Valentinian III's assassination there was little indication who would succeed the imperial throne. Maximus positioned himself as the likeliest candidate Augustus 455 and probably with a fair dose of palm greasing within the Senate achieved the succession. Immediately after, he forced the marriage to Valentinian's own widow to validate his imperial claim. It proved to be political suicide.

Petronius Maximus

Licinia Eudoxia, a powerful and well-connected noble in her own right, harbored intense resentment over Maximus whom she had good reason of suspecting foul play in her former husband's death. And now the forced marriage was the last straw. Secretly, she appealed for help to the weakening empire's greatest adversary at the moment, the Vandals of Africa. Led by King Gaiseric, the Vandals needed little incentive to go on a looting rampage and thus set the wheels in motion for a major invasion of Italy. As the invasion became known in Rome a panic ensued and turned into a desperate mob. Unraveling what had happened and what was surely to become, they tracked down Maximus in his palace and stoned him to death with the tiles of his own roof after a reign of only about two months. Gaiseric wasn't long in coming, pillaging Rome a second time and hauling off with whatever loot it could find including, ironically enough, Licinia Eudoxia herself. Busts:
1) 2) Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right

Obverse:
1) DN PETRONIVS MAXIMVS PF AVG

The western Roman empire during the fifth century produced relatively few coins. Precious metal coinage was struck erratically as specie became available and then mostly to pay off barbarian tribes in tribute or its own rag-tag band of soldiers. Having ruled from March 16 through May 31 , Petronius Maximus barely had any time in office. Given these two variables its hardly a wonder that he easily makes the top ten list of rarest of Roman emperors to be featured on a coin. The few that do make it to auction will invariably reach five or six figures.
st

Reverse:
1) VICTORIA AVGGG

Type:
1)

Petronius Maximus standing, facing, stepping on serpent, holding cross and Victory on globe.

Mints:
1) 2) Ravenna Roma

AU Solidus
1) B1, O1, R1, T1, M2 Exe: R/M/COMOB

Reference(s)
RIC X 2201

557
Avitus was the leading commander under Petronius Maximus and was elevated to the throne when Maximus was killed. He held on to power for almost a year before the citizens of Rome revolted over one of the now-common food shortages. Taking advantage of the unrest, the general Ricimer and his aide Majorian mutinied and Augustus 455-456 Avitus fled towards Gaul, which is where his main powerbase was. However, the forces of Ricimer caught up with him and his entourage was defeated. Avitus attempted to gain sanctuary in a nearby temple but Ricimer laid siege to it until Avitus either committed suicide or starved to death.

Avitus

Busts:
1) 2) Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) DN AVITVS PERP AG DN AVITVS PERP AVG DN AVITVS PERP F AVG DN AVITVS PF AVG

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) VICTORIA AVG VICTORIA AVGG VICTORIA AVGGG VRBIS ROMA No legend

Despite clocking a little more time at the top than Petronius Maximus, Avituss coins are hardly any more abundant. The fact remains that the western section of the empire is rapidly collapsing and there is neither need nor resources for minting money. As always, what little gold can be scrounged up to pay for critical government and military services is coined anyway and a few vestigial mementos therefore remain of this troubled ruler. Surprisingly enough, even a handful of crude bronzes have been identified as well. All of these coins are extreme rarities.

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) Avitus standing right, stepping on captive, holding cross and Victory on globe. Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe and spear. Victory standing left, holding wreath and palm Wreath, cross within

Mints:
1) 2) 3) Arelate Mediolanum Roma

AU Solidus
1) B2, O3, R3, T1, M1 Exe: A/R/COMOB

Reference(s)
RIC X 2401

AU Tremissis
2) B1, O2, R5, T4, M1 Exe: COMOB RIC X 2402

AE4
3) 4) B1, O4, R1, T3, M3 Exe: */RM B1, O4, R1, T3, M3 Exe: `/RM RIC X 2412 RIC X 2413

Avitus Busts

Avitus Types

558
Majorian ruled for a comparatively lengthy four-year reign at the end of the Roman empire. Having been associated in his youth with Aetius, the commander slain by Valentinian III, his imperial title came at the disposition of the general Ricimer with whom he was also involved. Ricimer would have loved to Augustus 457-461 make himself emperor but his barbarian blood prevented him from the post. His discretion in not forcing the issue meant he wouldn't have to quell any revolts within Italy and his choice to appoint his friend Majorian would have been the next best thing.

Majorian

Majorian himself appears to have had a commendable character. Widespread discontent had been rampant ever since tax collectors refused the legal tender of the day and instead demanded payment in money minted by second-century emperors! So in a bid to ease tensions in the moribund empire he nullified past debts owed to the state treasury. By resetting the public balance sheet Majorian could only have gained a good deal of popularity and perhaps this explains why his tenure as emperor lasted so long compared to his two immediate predecessors. However, his downfall was soon to come just at the height of his glory. With the newfound unity among Romans, Majorian set out to reclaim the north African coast lost to the Vandals and which had been for the past 50 years its single biggest loss. Carthage and its adjoining provinces was Italy's breadbasket and without it the Roman empire was slowly starving. Majorian and Ricimer devised a plan to drive the Vandals out of Africa by building a powerful new navy from scratch. As the army set sail by way of Spain someone double-crossed the two and the navy ships were ambushed while in port at Carthagena. Majorian and Ricimer's grand scheme crumbled without a way to mount an invasion. Suddenly his formerly grateful subjects turned on him and threatened rebellion. Whether Ricimer let him resign or Majorian himself abdicated is unsure. Several days later he was found dead and although the historical references point to disease the timing seems to favor an alternate, more violent end. Busts:
1) 2) 3) 4) Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed bust facing, wearing consular robes, holding mappa and scepter Helmeted, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right, holding spear and shield

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) DN IVL MAIORIANVS C DN IVL MAIORIANVS PE AVG DN IVL MAIORIANVS PER AVG DN IVL MAIORIANVS PF DN IVL MAIORIANVS PF A DN IVL MAIORIANVS PF AVG DN IVLIVS MAIORIANVS DN IVLIVS MAIORIANVS F AVG DN IVLIVS MAIORIANVS PE AVG DN IVLIVS MAIORIANVS PF AV DN IVLIVS MAIORIANVS PF AVG DN MAIORIANE PF AVG DN MAIORIANE PT AVG DN MAIORIANVS PF AVG DN MAIORIANVS PT AVG

Under Majorians four year reign the social, political and economic upheavals of the previous years get a much needed period of rest. Coins, however, continue to be struck in very limited quantities and no significant effort is expended in halting the artistic slide committed into their production. A few small coppers survive and these are the cheapest. They still run quite pricey at a minimum of $500 each and for this one should expect no more than a barely identifiable specimen. Silver and, of course, gold coins hold up better with full- or near-full legends being the norm. When available, they will cost at least a thousand dollars and, more typically, several thousand.

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) VICTORIA AVGG VICTORIA AVGGG VOTIS MVLTIS No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) Majorian and Leo I seated, facing, each holding mappa and scepter with crossed tip. Majorian standing left, holding spear and shield Majorian standing, facing, resting hand on head of captive and holding labarum Majorian standing, facing, stepping on snake, holding cross and Victory on globe. Victory standing left, holding cross Victory standing left, holding wreath and palm. Wreath, cross within

559
Mints:
1) 2) Arelate Mediolanum 3) 4) Ravenna Roma Suspected, but not yet confirmed

AU Solidus
1) 2) B4, O11, R2, T4, M1 Exe: A/R/COMOB. B4, O11, R2, T4, M3 Exe: R/V/COMOB

Reference(s)
RIC X 2627 RIC X 2614

AU Tremissis
3) B1, O06, R4, T7, M3 Exe: COMOB RIC X 2611

AR Siliqua
4) B4, O07, R1, T5, M2 RIC X 2650

AE3/AE4
5) 6) B1, O06, R2, T6, M2 Exe: MD B1, O06, R2, T6, M3 Exe: RV RIC X 2646, L 582 RIC X 2616, L 586

Majorian Busts

Majorian Types

Libius Severus
Augustus 461-465
Bust:
1) 2) Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right

After the execution of Majorian in 461 the general Ricimer placed Severus as emperor. Only emperor in name, Ricimer remained the true power in the quickly deteriorating Roman Empire. Little else is known about this emperor other than the fact that he died in office of natural causes, in itself a remarkable feat for this turbulent period. A four year reign could be considered lengthy and yet finding a coin of Libius Severus outside of a museum is a rare sight indeed. In terms of rarity one could compare him with Didius Julianus or Laelianus both of whom had much, much briefer reigns. Still, the collector will find that for the period his coins are that much easier to locate than those of his immediate predecessors and succesors. The collector will also begin to see Romes final lap in the crudeness of the designs and the carelessness of the strikings. Any coin of Libius Severus may be expected to cost at least several hundreds of dollars and from there up, up, up.

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) DN LIB SEVERVS PF AVG DN LIBIVS SEVERVS PE AVG DN LIBIVS SEVERVS PERPE AVG DN LIBIVS SEVERVS PERPETV AG DN LIBIVS SEVERVS PERPETV AVG DN LIBIVS SEVERVS PF AV DN LIBIVS SEVERVS PF AVG No legend

560
Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) SALVS REIPVBLICAE VICTO AVG VICTORIA AVGGG VRBIS ROMA No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Monogram Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and spear Severus standing, facing, stepping on snake, holding cross and Victory on globe Wreath, christogram within Wreath, cross within Wreath, monogram within

Mints:
1) 2) Arelate Mediolanum 3) 4) Ravenna Roma

AU Solidus
1) 2) 3) B2, O4, R3, T3, M2 Exe: M/D/COMOB B2, O7, R3, T3, M3 Exe: R/V/CONOB B2, O7, R3, T3, M4 Exe: R/M/C

Reference(s)
RIC X 2724 RIC X 2719 RIC X 2706

AU Tremissis
4) 5) 6) B1, O1, R5, T5 Exe: COMOB B1, O6, R5, T3 Exe: COMOB B2, O1, R5, T3 Exe: COMOB RIC X 2709 RIC X 2726 RIC X 2710

AR Siliqua
7) B2, O1, R5, T4, M4 Exe: RM RIC X 2713

AE4
8) B2, O8, R5, T1 RIX X 2716

Libius Severus Busts

Libius Severus Types

561
Unlike at any other time in Roman history up until this point, following the death of Libius Severus there was no one to take his place in imperial succession. Ricimer was the powerful general in charge of the army and for over a year and a half he handled the administrative duties of the empire. Not that that changed anything. Augustus 467-472 Ricimer had been the real power in the Western Empire for several years. Severus had just been his charade of an emperor placed there to appease the Senate and the rest of the Roman world which expected a Roman leader (Ricimer himself being of barbarian descent).

Anthemius

However, Ricimer had no one else in mind as window dressing after Severus' passing. Still, appearances or no an emperor had to be formally named sooner or later. In the camp of Ricimer a Roman of barbarian sympathies, Olybrius, had been proposed and it seemed as though he would be elevated. But out east Leo I had had ample time to hear of the developments in Rome. Being far more powerful politically and militarily, he decided to appoint a puppet of his own, Anthemius, to head the Western court. Deciding not to risk a civil war he could definitely not win, Ricimer stepped aside and welcomed Anthemius. But Anthemius was no idle pretender. He had served Leo faithfully as a general and had won several key battles on his behalf. In fact, he was so popular over there that he was expected to be the one to succeed Marcian. So Leo in effect rid himself of a future potential problem by both promoting Anthemius and removing him from the spotlight. But the new emperor was like a fish out of water. He lacked the resources to mount an effective campaign to regain Gaul or Spain and the whole of Africa had now been decidedly lost to the Romans following the fiasco of the expedition led by Basiliscus. He ruled for five uneasy years with Ricimer until tensions strained past the breaking point. Ricimer marched towards Rome at the head of a large army and laid siege to a weakened Rome. As expected, the meager forces of Anthemius gave way and the emperor was captured and executed. Busts:
1) 2) 3) 4) Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right Helmeted, diademed (pearls), cuirassed bust facing, holding spear over shoulder and shield Helmeted, diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust facing, holding spear over shoulder

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) DN ANTHEMIVS PE AVG DN ANTHEMIVS PERP AVG DN ANTHEMIVS PERPE AVG DN ANTHEMIVS PERPET AV DN ANTHEMIVS PERPET AVG DN ANTHEMIVS PERPETV AG DN ANTHEMIVS PERPETV AVG DN ANTHEMIVS PF AG DN ANTHEMIVS PF AVG DN PROC ANTHEMIVS PF AVG

Among the various Rome-based emperors left after the fall of Valentinian III, Anthemius will be the easiest for whom to find a coin. But dont rush to your corner coin shop just yet. He comes in a really long distant second after Valentinian III and will be an invariably rare offering today. Among these the most common will be the Solidus and Tremissis which will easily cost over a thousand dollars a piece when available. To make things a bit more interesting the official mints are now making gold coins of an artistic style so crude that they often get confused with imitative contemporary coins known to be made by the various tribes at the edges of the empire like the Vandals and Ostrogoths. These apparently co-mingled with the official strikes back then as long as they were of appropriate weight and purity and today sell for neither a premium nor a penalty on the market but simply make attribution a bit more difficult. Bronzes exist in an almost theoretical plane such as catalog listings like in this book! The real-life chances of finding an honest-to-goodness, fully identifiable Anthemius copper coin is about on a par with finding a Van Gogh at a yard sale.

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) GLORIA REIPVBLICAE SALVS REIPVBLICAE VICTORIA AVGGG VRBIS ROMA No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) Anthemius and Leo I seated, facing, each holding mappa and scepter with crossed tip. Anthemius and Leo I standing, facing each other, holding together cross and each a globe. Anthemius and Leo I standing, facing, together holding cross and each a spear Anthemius and Leo I standing, facing, together holding cross on globe and each a spear. Anthemius and Leo I standing, facing, together holding cross on globe reading PAX; emperor on right hold Victory on globe. Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe and spear. Victory standing left, holding cross. Wreath, Chi-Rho within. Wreath, cross within Wreath, cross within with pellets at each tip Wreath, monogram within

562
Mints:
1) 2) 3) Mediolanum Ravenna Roma

AU Solidus
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) B2, O10, R2, T03, M2 Exe: RV/COMOB B3, O05, R2, T04, M1 Exe: MD/COMOB B3, O08, R2, T04, M1 Exe: MD/COMOB B3, O08, R2, T04, M2 Exe: /COMOB B3, O08, R2, T04, M3 Exe: /CORMOB B3, O08, R2, T05, M2 Exe: R/V/COMOB B3, O10, R2, T03, M2 Exe: RV/COMOB B4, O08, R2, T04, M3 Exe: RM over /COMOB

Reference(s)
RIC X 2866 RIC X 2890 RIC X 2889 RIC X 2816 RIC X 2872 RIC X 2868 RIC X 2831

AU Semissis
9) B2, O08, R2, T08 Exe: COMOB RIC X 2837

AU Tremissis
10) 11) 12) B1, O08, R5, T09 Exe: COMOB B1, O08, R5, T10 Exe: COMOB B2, O08, R5, T09 Exe: COMOB RIC X 2847 RIC X 2852 RIC X 2842

AE4
13) B1, O08, R5, T11 RIC X 2859

Anthemius Busts

Anthemius Types

563
Wife of Anthemius. Euphemia was a noble related to the house of Valentinian III. When this emperor was murdered (Anthemius was highly suspected of being involved) Anthemius forcibly married Eufemia in a bid to legitimize his claim to the throne. This marriage proved a constant irritant and continuing insult to the ?-? memory of Valentinian and she sought to undermine her new husband by any means possible. Her last and boldest attempt proved successful in a sense. By inciting a Vandal king to come to her aid and free her he found the little pretext he needed and proceeded to raid and sack Rome.

Euphemia

Bust:
1)

Diademed, draped bust right

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) DN AEL MARC EVEEMIAE PP AVG DN AEL MARC EVFEMIAE PP AVG DN AEL MARC EVFEMIAE PF AVG DN AEL MARC EVFIMIAE AVG DN AEL MARC EVFYMIAE PP AVG DN AELIA MARCIAE EVFIMI AG DN EVFYMIA PF AVG

Forget about it. Like most other Roman empresses, especially those from the Western court, the coins of this ephemeral entity are impossibly rare. So much so that one is not likely to find any of her coins in any of the major numismatic auctions. The coin pictured below is from the British Museum and it is the only one in their possession as of this writing.

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) GLORIA REIPVBLICAE VICTORIA AVGGG VRBIS ROMA

Types:
1) 2) 3) Anthemius and Euphemia standing, holding long crosses. Roma seated on throne, holding Victory on globe and spear. Victory standing left, holding cross.

Mints:
1) 2) 3) Mediolanum Ravenna Roma

AU Solidus
1) 2) B1, O1, R2, T3, M3 Exe: CORMOB B1, O3, R2, T3, M3 Exe: COMOB * at end of reverse legend * at end of reverse legend

Reference(s)
RIC 2827 (X, Anthemius)

564

Anicius Olybrius
Augustus 472
sought after by affluent collectors. Bust:
1) Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right

One of the shadowier of the "shadow emperors", Olybrius was the last of Ricimer's puppet emperors having been appointed to the post in the spring of 472. Ricimer died soon afterwards but Olybrius, an otherwise well-placed Roman aristocrat, failed to leave his mark on history independent of Ricimer's own wishes because he, too, would die later that year. As can be expected, his coins are excessively rare and Another member of the top ten most difficult and rarest of emperors means you wont be seeing a coin with his name on it this side of a museum if its even available there. For example, the British Museum with its unequalled collection of ancient coins has only one coin of his, a lonely Tremissis, a cast of which is pictured below.

Obverses:
1) 2) DN ANICIVS OLYBRIVS AVG DN ANICIVS OLYBRIVS AG

Reverse:
1) 2) SALVS MVNDI No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) Cross, jeweled Cross, plain Wreath, cross within

Mints:
1) 2) Mediolanum Roma

AU Tremissis
1) B1, O2, R1, T1 Exe: COMOB

Reference(s)
RIC X 3003

565

Glycerius
Augustus 473-474

Glycerius was one of the inconsequential emperors holding office during the Western empire's last heartbeats. He was a puppet of the barbarian general Gundobad who, apparently seeking a stable relationship with the much more powerful Eastern half of the empire, caved in to formalities and chose to exercise his power over Italy through this chosen puppet.

But Leo I was not fooled and he nominated his own candidate, Julius Nepos, and sent him off towards Italy. Gundobad evaporated and Glycerius, not wishing to confront Leo's will, abdicated peacefully to Nepos. For his peaceful disposition in surrender he escaped execution and was subsequently made Bishop of Salona and then Milan. Busts:
1) 2) Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) DN GLVCERIVS F P AVG DN GLVCERIVS PF AVG DN GLYCERIVS F P AVG DN GLYCERIVS PF AVG

Although on the throne for a full year Glycerius seems to have minted remarkably few coins. Hardly any remain today in private or public hands. The British Museum, with the worlds largest collection of Roman coins numbering into the hundreds of thousands has but one coin of his. Although a few are in private hands none has come to market in years.

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) VICTORIA AVGG VICTORIA AVGGG No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) Glycerius standing with foot on step, holding cross and Victory on globe. Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm Wreath, cross within

Mints:
1) 2) Ravenna Roma

AU Solidus
1) B2, O3, R1, T1 Exe: R/V/COMOB

Reference(s)
RIC 3101

AU Tremissis
2) B1, O3, R3, T3 Exe: COMOB RIC 3108

Glycerius Busts

Glycerius Types

566
Julius Nepos rose to power at the behest of Leo, the eastern emperor. The then current ruler, Glycerius, was but a palace court appointee and puppet of a conquering barbarian general. On the approach of Nepos' army, Glycerius abdicated and was allowed to retire without bloodshed. Nepos himself was to hold on to power Augustus 474-475 for barely a year before he fled another approaching army of barbarians. Although without an army, subjects or any legislative power, Nepos would linger in near anonymity in Northern Italy until he was murdered in 480 by men from his own bodyguard. From the time he fled Rome until his death he was, however, diplomatically recognized by the court of Leo as the emperor of the West. Technically at least, he was thus the last emperor outlasting the brief rule of Romulus Augustus.

Julius Nepos

Busts:
1) 2) Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right Helmeted, diademed, cuirassed bust facing, holding spear over shoulder and shield

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) DN IVL NEPOS PF AG DN IVL NEPOS PF AVG DN IVLI NEPOS PF AVG DN IVLI NEPOS PF VAG No legend

During the last twenty years or so the Western Roman empires entire coin output seems to have been less than, for example, the brief three-month reigns of Otho or Florian. Of the several rulers that were left to sit on the imperial throne following Valentinian IIIs death only Libius Severus and Julius Nepos made enough coins to classify today as something other than exceedingly rare or some similar adjective. But finding a coin of either of these two makes for a challenging task. Still, a few Tremisses and the odd Solidus or two turn up with some frequency among the more exclusive auction firms. A rough ball park figure for an entry level grade Tremissis might be two or three thousand dollars.

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) GLORIA ROMANORVM SALVS REIPVBLICAE VICTORIA AVGGG VRBIS ROMA No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) Roma seated, facing, holding globe and spear Roma seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter and cornucopia. Roma standing left, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter and cornucopia. Victory standing left, holding cross Wreath, Chi-Rho within Wreath, cross within Wreath, monogram within

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) Arelate Mediolanum Ravenna Roma

AU Solidus
1) 2) 3) 4) B2, O2, R3, T4, M2 Exe: M/D/COMOB B2, O2, R3, T4, M2 Exe: M/D/CONOB B2, O2, R3, T4, M3 Exe: R/V/COMOB B2, O2, R3, T4, M4 Exe: */COMOB : at end of reverse legend

Reference(s)
RIC X 3235 RIC X 3217 RIC X 3212 RIC X 3206

AU Tremissis
5) 6) B1, O2, R5, T6 Exe: COMOB B1, O2, R5, T6 Exe: COMOB The AV in obverse legend is concatenated as ~ RIC X 3211 RIC X 3221

AR Siliqua
7) B1, O2, R5, T3 R in left field, V in right RIC X 3216

AE4
8) B1, O5, R5, T7 RIC X 3222

567
Julius Nepos Busts

Julius Nepos Types

568
Romulus Augustus was the last named emperor of the Roman empire. He was the son of Orestes, a barbarian king that overran the Italian peninsula and who named his son emperor only to keep appearances of legitimacy. Barely in his teens, this last emperor was to Augustus 475-476 be thoroughly inconsequential with the exception of being the last. Soon another barbarian king, Odoacer, loomed on the horizon and the two kings fought and Odoacer emerged victorious. With Orestes dead, Odoacer decided to spare the life of Augustus on account of his age but stripped him of his titles and exiled him to a rural estate to live with relatives. His imperial dress and other related accoutrements were packed and sent to Zeno, the eastern emperor, along with several senators and they were made to hand over his resignation along with terse notice to the effect that Rome no longer needed an emperor. And with this the Western Roman empire was finished as such and began its ultimate slide into the medieval age.

Romulus Augustus

Busts:
1) 2) Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right Helmeted, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust facing holding spear over shoulder and shield

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) DN ROMVL AVGVSTVS PF AG DN ROMVL AVGVSTVS PF AVG DN ROMVLVS AGVSTVS P AVG DN ROMVLVS AGVSTVS PF AVG DN ROMVLVS AVGVSTVS PF A DN ROMVLVS AVGVSTVS PF AG DN ROMVLVS AVGVSTVS PF AVG DN ROMVLVS AVSTVS PF AG

Reverses:
1) 2) VICTORIA AVGGG No legend

The Roman empire ends not with a bang but with a whimper. Money is the lifeblood of commerce and there is hardly any of that in the year 476 anywhere in Italy. The glorious city that was Rome, with a population estimated at over one million people when Julius Caesar and Augustus reigned, was now a decrepit near-ghost town of perhaps less than 25,000 souls. So there was little money needed for the empty marketplaces nor for soldiers who by and large werent even Roman. But, of course, a few were struck regardless. And of those that survived meltdown or other loss through time they are very, very highly prized today. On the few occasions a Romulus Augustus has been offered at auction hammer prices go well over $20,000.

Types:
1) 2) 3) Roma holding scepter and cornucopia Victory standing left, holding cross Wreath, cross within.

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) Arelate Mediolanum Ravenna Roma

AU Solidus
1) B2, O7, R1, T2, M4 Exe: R/M/COMOB

Reference(s)
RIC X 3405

AU Tremissis
2) B2, O5, R2, T3, M4 RIC X 3409

Romulus Augustus Busts

Romulus Augustus Types

569

The Byzantine Period

The Byzantine age may be said to have been born when Constantinople refounded the already ancient city of Byzantium into a capital the equal of Rome in the year 330 complete with imperial palaces, a treasury and autonomous administrative bodies. Already a generation before Diocletian had set the wheels in motion by splitting the empire into two halves in his Tetrarchy scheme. But while the western emperor always called the great city of Rome his homebase his eastern associate migrated from one province city to the next without a true capital to equal Romes splendour and political prominence. It was not until Constantines reign that he addressed this last need and celebrated the event in an extensive coinage series the likes of which were unprecedented in Roman history. These are the commonly found today Urbs Roma and Constantinopolis bronzes and the complete issue spanned several years and was struck at every operating mint. While Constantine gave the east a capital to rival Rome he still presided over both halves as the empires ultimate power figure and each of his successors attempted, if not achieved, to be the primary Augustus. When Valentinian I and later Theodosius ascended the throne they each saw that the two halves had become so different from one another that it was impractical to rule both effectively at once. What its citizens had until then viewed each other as countrymen they now regarded more as associates and occasionally as rivals. Culturally, the two had parted ways long before they had done so at a political level. And upon Theodosiuss death the split became permanent as his sons Honorius and Arcadius assumed the titles of Augustus and went on to rule their assigned halves separately. Numismatically, the Byzantine period is usually attributed as having started under the reign of Anastasius I who in 498 put into effect a complete overhaul of the currency system. Traditionally and up until this point the mint at Rome served as the model for all other provincial mints and the major issues were carefully coordinated throughout the empire so that a coin made in London appeared much the same as one from Alexandria. This coordination and standardization facilitated commerce and lent credibility to the concept of a unified empire. th th However, as the importance of Romes mint waned in the 4 century, and became downright trivial in the 5 , Constantinople took increasingly less concern over keeping in tune with Romes way of producing currency. Little by little Greek letters began replacing Latin ones and other design motifs became differentiated and acquired a style more readily identifiable to Constantinople and its satellite mints. Within a century after Anastasius reform few of the quintessentially Roman conventions would remain untampered. Latin, perhaps the most pervasive and tangible of Roman institutions, would be relegated to the language of religious scholars and political hopefuls but would practically disappear from coin legends. As has been pointed out above, the eastern and western halves of the empire had gone their own ways in a cultural sense long before the formal partitioning. In fact, the east had always proven to be much more resistant to Romanization than the west or Northern Africa. For much of the Roman imperial period the Greeks had been allowed special concessions in striking their own money using Greek legends and implementing design elements of local significance. When the western half finally collapsed the vestigial political hierarchy inherited from the Romans continued under an infrastructure that would have been considered foreign to an ordinary Roman be he contemporary or ancient. Thus the Byzantines retained the imperial legacy, incorporating even a nominal Senate, but discarded most of the other cultural trappings one associates with the ancient Roman culture. And yet they still identified with the Roman cachet and adopted its name, more often so than Greek, to distinguish themselves from th th outsiders. In an ironical twist, as the might of the Byzantines grew in the 6 and 7 centuries they were able to recapture the Italian peninsula and proceeded to Byzantify their newly reconquered areas. The implementation of many of these policies must have seemed wholly foreign to the Romans living there despite the occupiers claims of a close kinship. Once the two cultures deviated so much from one another, and these changes reflected on the coins being covered, it would be improper to consider both cultures chronologically. Rather the previous section follows the lineage of Honorius through Romes downfall in 476 and the following short section introduces the Byzantine, or rather proto-Byzantine one which begins neatly under Arcadius and closes with Anastasius I whose reform precipitates new changes that deviate significantly from the more mainstream Roman coinage. However, it is worth noting that while each successive Byzantine reign distances itself from its former Roman roots the coins themselves continue to appear familiar for several centuries after to any student or collector of Roman coins.

570
Arcadius was given the title of Augustus when only six years of age. After his father Theodosius died in 395 he and his brother Honorius remained the only emperors, Arcadius being the emperor in the eastern half. It seems he spent his whole life ineffectually trying to rid himself of one regent after another who wielded the Augustus 383-408 true power. Even his wife Eudoxia has more on record for being politically active and influential than he and, as a result, little of what he personally desired came through amid all the background noise. He died in his early 30's of unknown causes.

Arcadius

Busts:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right, holding spear and shield; Hand of God above Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed, cuirassed bust right Helmeted, diademed (pearls), cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and shield Helmeted, diademed (rosettes), cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and shield

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) DN ARCADI AVG DN ARCADIVS PF AVG DN ARCADIVS PF AVGVSTVS DN ARCDIVS PF AVG

During the time Arcadius had coins minted in his name the Roman empires money making machinery began scaling back operations. In the span of twenty years six mints had closed their doors for good and the coins themselves were manufactured ever more shoddily. While coins in silver and gold still deserve some level of care in their crafting, the bronzes, the peoples coins so to speak, suffer the most. Sizes shrink rapidly, the strikings are poor and off-center and the very chemical makeup of the bronze has been compromised by the significant addition of lead and tin which made the coin more vulnerable to wear, warping and corrosion. But there are still plenty of Arcadius coins available. For gold a Solidus will run about $500 for a common type. Silver is mostly represented by the Siliqua which is also fairly common but tough to find in mint condition. A good one will cost between $100-$200. And there are many, many bronzes available from early in his reign which can often be bought for just a dollar or two a piece. A portrait type first introduced by Constantius II is reawakened in a big way by both Arcadius and Honorius. The image of the facing bust holding his spear and shield must have so flattered these and following emperors that it remains in continuous use all the way into the eighth century. In fact, it is even used on the earliest coins of Theodosius II who was still a baby!

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) CONCORDIA AVG CONCORDIA AVGG CONCORDIA AVGGG CONCORDIA AVGGGG GLORIA REIPVBLICE GLORIA ROMANORVM NOVA SPES REIPVBLICAE SALVS REIPVBLICAE SPES REIPVBLICAE TRIVMFATOR GENT BARB VICTORIA AVG VICTORIA AVGG VICTORIA AVGGG VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM VICTORIA ROMANORVM VIRTVS AVGGG VIRTVS EXERCITI VIRTVS EXERCITVM VIRTVS EXERCITVS VIRTVS ROMANORVM VOTA PLVRIA VRBS ROMA VRBS ROMA FELIX No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) Arcadius advancing right, dragging captive and holding labarum Arcadius and Honorius seated, facing, together holding shield reading VOT / XV / MVLT / XX; in between them cross above and palm below. Arcadius and Theodosius seated, facing; in between them Victory above and palm below. Arcadius riding horse right, raising hand Arcadius riding oncoming chariot with six horses, raising hand and holding globe Arcadius standing left on galley, stepping on captive, holding phoenix on globe and labarum; Victory seated to right, steering galley. Arcadius standing left, holding spear and resting hand on shield, being crowned by Victory to right, holding palm. Arcadius standing right, stepping on captive, holding labarum and globe Arcadius standing right, stepping on captive, holding labarum and Victory on globe Arcadius standing, facing, holding labarum and globe Arcadius standing, facing, holding labarum and globe; seated captive to left. Arcadius standing, facing, holding labarum and globe; seated captive to right. Arcadius standing, facing, holding labarum and resting hand on shield; seated captive to left. Arcadius standing, facing, holding labarum and Victory on globe; shield to right Arcadius standing, facing, holding Victory on globe and labarum Arcadius standing, facing, raising hand and holding globe. Arcadius, Honorius and Theodosius II standing, facing, each holding spear and the two outer emperors also resting hand on shield City gate with (2) turrets City gate with (2) turrets, Christogram above Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter and globe. Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter and Victory on globe. Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter and shield reading VOT / V / MVL / X Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter and shield reading VOT / V / MVL T/ X Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter and shield reading VOT / X / MVL / XV Cross

571
26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) 41) Roma and Constantinopolis seated, facing, together holding shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XX. Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe and spear. Roma standing, facing, holding trophy and Victory on globe. Victories (2), facing each other, holding wreath. Victory advancing forward, holding wreath and cross on globe Victory advancing left, holding trophy and dragging captive. Victory advancing left, holding wreath and cross on globe Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. Victory advancing right, holding wreath and cross on globe. Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XV; Genius to lower right also holding shield. Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XX Victory seated right, holding shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XX; Genius to lower right also holding shield. Victory seated right, holding shield reading XX / XXX Wreath, VOT / V within. Wreath, VOT / X / MVLT / XX within Wreath, VOT / XX / MVLT / XXX within

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Alexandria Antioch Aquileia Arelate Constantinopolis Cyzicus 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) Heraclea Lugdunum Mediolanum Nicomedia Ravenna Roma 13) 14) 15) 16) Siscia Sirmium Thessalonica Treveri

AU Solidus
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) B1, O2, R04, T20, M05 Exe: CONOB B1, O2, R13, T09, M09 Exe: M/D/COMOB B1, O2, R13, T09, M11 Exe: R/V/COMOB B1, O2, R13, T09, M14 Exe: S/M/COMOB B3, O2, R03, T22, M05 Exe: CONOB B5, O2, R02, T21, M05 Exe: CONOB B5, O2, R02, T21, M15 Exe: COMOB B5, O2, R03, T21, M09 Exe: */COMOB B5, O2, R07, T38, M05 Exe: CONOB

Reference(s)
Officina at end of reverse legend
RIC 46f (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 35b (IX, Mediolanum) RIC 1286 (X, Honorius) RIC 1 (X, Arcadius) RIC 70c (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 7 (X, Arcadius) RIC 37 (X, Arcadius) RIC 39 (IX, Mediolanum) RIC 22 (X, Arcadius)

Officina at end of reverse legend

AU Tremissis
10) 11) 12) B1, O2, R14, T30, M05 Exe: CONOB B1, O2, R14, T32, M05 Exe: */COMOB B1, O2, R14, T34, M09 Exe: M/D/COMOB RIC 19 (X, Arcadius) RIC 34 (X, Arcadius) RIC 1214 (X, Honorius)

AR Siliqua
13) 14) 15) B1, O2, R20, T27, M09 Exe: MDPS B1, O2, R22, T27, M08 Exe: LVGPS B1, O2, R24, T40, M05 Exe: CONS RIC 1227 (X, Honorius) RIC 43c (IX, Lugdunum) RIC 87b (IX, Constantinopolis)

AE2
16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) B1, O2, R06, T10, M02 Exe: ANT` B1, O2, R06, T10, M07 Exe: */SMH` B1, O2, R17, T08, M02 Exe: ANT` B1, O2, R17, T08, M06 Exe: SMK` B1, O3, R17, T08, M05 Exe: /CONS` B1, O3, R17, T08, M05 Exe: /CONS` B2, O2, R06, T13, M05 Exe: CON` B2, O2, R06, T13, M05 Exe: CON`* B2, O2, R06, T13, M06 Exe: SMK` B2, O2, R06, T13, M07 Exe: T /SMH` RIC 68c (IX, Antiochia) RIC 27b (IX, Heraclea) RIC 25c (IX, Cyzicus) RIC 53a (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 15 (IX, Cyzicus) RIC 22 (IX, Heraclea)

AE3
26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) 41) B1, O2, R06, T01, M13 Exe: `SISC B1, O2, R06, T01, M15 Exe: TES B1, O2, R06, T17, M02 Exe: AN` B1, O2, R06, T17, M06 Exe: SMK` B1, O2, R16, T06, M15 Exe: `/TES B1, O2, R17, T07, M05 Exe: CONS` B1, O2, R17, T07, M06 Exe: SMK` B1, O2, R17, T07, M10 Exe: SMN` B1, O2, R17, T08, M05 Exe: /CONS` B1, O2, R17, T08, M07 Exe: SMH` B1, O4, R23, T14, M12 Exe: OF/`/SMROM B5, O2, R02, T21, M02 Exe: ANT` B5, O2, R02, T21, M05 Exe: CONS` B5, O2, R02, T21, M06 Exe: SMK` B5, O2, R02, T21, M10 Exe: SMN` B6, O2, R02, T21, M02 Exe: ANT` RIC 38c (IX, Siscia) * behind bust * behind bust RIC 151 (X, Arcadius) RIC 61c (IX, Thessalonica) RIC 60 (X, Arcadius) RIC 66 (X, Arcadius) RIC 62 (X, Arcadius) RIC 83c (IX, Constantinopolis), L 2173 RIC 24c (IX, Heraclea) RIC 97 (X, Arcadius), L 2797 RIC 85 (X, Arcadius) RIC 94 (X, Arcadius), L 2586 RIC 91 (X, Arcadius), L 2442 RIC 98 (X, Arcadius)

572
AE4
42) 43) 44) 45) 46) 47) 48) 49) 50) 51) 52) 53) 54) 55) 56) 57) 58) 59) 60) B1, O2, R01, T25, M05 Exe: CONS B1, O2, R03, T25, M06 Exe: SMK` B1, O2, R03, T25, M07 Exe: SMH` B1, O2, R05, T18, M15 Exe: `/TES B1, O2, R05, T18, M15 Exe: TES B1, O2, R08, T31, M02 Exe: /ANT` B1, O2, R08, T31, M02 Exe: /ANT` B1, O2, R08, T31, M03 Exe: /AQ` B1, O2, R08, T31, M05 Exe: /CONS` B1, O2, R08, T31, M05 Exe: CONS` B1, O2, R08, T31, M06 Exe: /SMK` B1, O2, R08, T31, M07 Exe: SMH` B1, O2, R13, T33, M13 Exe: `SIS B1, O2, R24, T39, M05 Exe: CON` B1, O2, R24, T39, M07 Exe: SMH` B1, O2, R24, T39, M07 Exe: SMH` B1, O2, R24, T39, M10 Exe: SMN` B1, O2, R24, T39, M13 Exe: `SIS B1, O2, R24, T40, M02 Exe: ANT`

Reference(s)
RIC 119 (X, Arcadius) RIC 132 (X, Arcadius), L 2594 RIC 123 (X, Arcadius) RIC 62c (IX, Thessalonica) RIC 62c (IX, Thessalonica) RIC 67a (IX, Antiochia) RIC 1237 (X, Honorius) RIC 86c (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 86c (IX, Constantinopolis), L 2193 RIC 26c (IX, Cyzicus) RIC 26c (IX, Heraclea) RIC 39d (IX, Siscia) RIC 62b (IX, Constantinopolis) RIC 18b.4 (IX, Heraclea) RIC 18b.1 (IX, Heraclea) RIC 37c (IX, Nicomedia) RIC 36 (IX, Siscia) RIC 65c (IX, Antioch), L 2735

573
Arcadius Busts

Arcadius Types

574
Wife The wife of Arcadius, Eudoxia had no desire to remain in the political background that was expected of an empress. Instead, she thoroughly dominated not only the will of Arcadius (who was, incidentally, content to relax well out of the limelight) but also play an active role b.380 d.404 in the political issues of the day and the religious ones as well. In this light she was resented by many who saw her self-acquired role unwelcome and was denounced as arrogant and materialistic. Those who had the nerve to condemn her could always count on swift retribution on her orders and this only served to further alienate those who weren't on her "good side". Honorius himself was said to complain to his brother Arcadius about the situation but the eastern emperor apparently never took any steps to suppress his wife's activities.

Eudoxia

Despite the negative view of her that has survived it seems apparent that she took advantage of her imperial position to live life to its fullest as she saw fit without regard for keeping appearances. She died at the age of only 21 due to complications following childbirth. Busts:
1) 2) Diademed, draped bust right Diademed, draped bust right, being crowned by Hand of God

Obverses:
1) 2) AEL EVDIXIA AVG AEL EVDOXIA AVG

Appearing every now and then among uncleaned Roman coins, Eudoxia ranks about fourth most th th common empresses among the 4 - and 5 -century coins. This would be behind Helena, Fausta, Galeria Valeria and, perhaps, Aelia Flaccilla none of whom had very extensive coin runs despite being in otherwise very prolific minting periods. It is often possible to identify her bronzes even when the obverse details have been obliterated or worn smooth because the reverses are unique to her during this period. The silver and gold coins will be much rarer and valuable. The by now venerable Tremissis will be the most often found denomination. Relative to the entire output of Solidi for these years, these small coins featured empresses much more frequently. One such Tremissis will still cost a few hundred dollars with $1,000 not being uncommon. Being rather thin and flimsy they tend to have slight bends and scratches. Of course, the flawless coin will fetch the highest prices at auction. An entry-level bronze need only cost around $20. Reference(s)
RIC 14 (X, Arcadius)

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) GLORIA ROMANORVM SALVS REIPVBLICAE VIRTVS EXERCITI No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Arcadius standing left, holding spear and resting hand on shield; being crowned by Victory, holding palm. Eudoxia seated, facing Victory seated right, holding shield with Chi-Rho design Victory seated right, holding shield with Chi-Rho design on column Wreath, Chi-Rho within Wreath, cross within

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Alexandria Antioch Constantinopolis Cyzicus Nicomedia

AU Solidus
1) B2, O2, R2, T4, M3 Exe: CONOB Officina at end of reverse legend

AU Tremissis
2) 3) B1, O2, R4, T6, M3 Exe: CON B1, O2, R4, T6, M3 Exe: CONOB* RIC 21 (X, Arcadius)

AR Miliarense
4) B1, O2, R4, T6, M3 Exe: CONS RIC 46 (X, Arcadius)

AE3
5) B2, O2, R1, T2, M1 Exe: /ALE` RIC 84 (X, Arcadius), L 2926

575
6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) B2, O2, R1, T2, M2 Exe: /ANT` B2, O2, R1, T2, M3 Exe: /CONS` B2, O2, R1, T2, M4 Exe: /SMK` B2, O2, R2, T4, M2 Exe: ANT` B2, O2, R2, T4, M3 Exe: CONS` B2, O2, R2, T4, M4 Exe: SMK` B2, O2, R2, T4, M5 Exe: SMN` RIC 83 (X, Arcadius), L 2805 RIC 77 (X, Arcadius), L 2218 RIC 81 (X, Arcadius), L 2593 RIC 104 (X, Arcadius), L 2218 RIC 101 (X, Arcadius), L 2210 RIC 103 (X, Arcadius), L 2589 RIC 102 (X, Arcadius), L 2445

Eudoxia Busts

Eudoxia Types

A fervent Christian, the daughter of Arcadius spent the greater portion of her life working for the early Christian church and using her imperial title to this end. When Arcadius died prematurely in 408 she was left in de facto charge over the empire as her brother, Theodosius II b.399 d.453 was still a minor. At the time he married, however, Eudocia, demanded that she withdraw from her high-profile public role. While still keeping her title and retinue, she spent the next several decades in Alexandria continuing her work in the church. She returned to Constantinople upon the death of Theodosius at which time she presided over the succession of Marcian to whom she agreed to marry symbolically in an act to legitimize his accession.

Pulcheria

Busts:
1) 2) Diademed, draped bust right Diademed, draped bust right, being crowned by Hand of God

Obverse:
1) AEL PVLCHERIA AVG

Curiously, in the case of a few emperors and empresses, their precious metal coinage is more common than bronzes. Considering that at one point the official tariff of a single Solidus was an extraordinary 7,200 AE4s (or more properly, Nummi) one might be forgiven for thinking that this would mean they would be available literally thousands of times more so. No chance. In the case of Pulcheria there are a few bronze coins attributed to her but they are downright rare and seldom offered for sale. Taking into account the fact that her husband reigned for nearly half a century and then survived him and went on to become Marcians wife as well (both of whom struck truly prodigious amounts of these small bronzes) the only explanation is that they must have been rare in her day as well. Most Pulcherias therefore will be of the usual gold and silver denominations without much variety in terms of reverse types or legends. Prices start at about an even $1,000 for your average Tremissis and about twice that for a Solidus. The good news is that theyre rather plentiful if you can afford them.

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) CONCORDIA AVG SALVS REIPVBLICAE VOT XX MVLT XXX VOT XXX MVLT XXXX CONCORDIA AVG IMP XXXXII COS XVII PP No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) Constantinopolis seated left, holding cross on globe and scepter; shield to side. Pulcheria seated, facing, crossing arms over chest. Victory seated right, holding shield with Chi-Rho design. Victory standing left, holding cross

576
5) 6) 7) Victory standing left, holding cross; star above. Wreath, Chi-Rho within Wreath, cross within

Mints:
1) 2) Constantinopolis Thessalonica

AU Solidus
1) 2) 3) 4) B2, O1, R2, T3 Exe: CONOB B2, O1, R3, T4 Exe: CONOB B2, O1, R3, T5 Exe: CONOB B2, O1, R6, T1 Exe: */COMOB

Reference(s)
RIC 205 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 220 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 226 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 295 (X, Theodosius II0

AU Semissis
5) B1, O1, R7, T6 Exe: CONOB* RIC 211 (X, Theodosius II)

AU Tremissis
6) B1, O1, R7, T7 Exe: CONOB* RIC 214 (X, Theodosius II)

AR Miliarense
7) B1, O1, R7, T6 Exe: CON*

AR Siliqua
8) B1, O1, R7, T7 Exe: CONS* RIC 383 (X, Theodosius II)

AE3
9) B1, O1, R1, T2 Exe: CONS RIC 427 (X, Theodosius II), L 2228

Pulcheria Busts

Pulcheria Types

577
Staying at the post of Roman emperor for a remarkable 48 years, equivalent to a dozen U.S. presidential terms, Theodosius II set remarkably few other records in all this time. He was the last emperor to rule both east and west halves, albeit briefly, after the death of Honorius and before the puppet emperor Johannes came Augustus 402-450 onto the scene. As for his own achievements, he wasn't much more than a figurehead ensconced in his palace. His sister Pulcheria took the active role in steering the empire. He died a few days after a hunting accident.

Theodosius II

Busts:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Diademed bust left, wearing consular robes, holding mappa and scepter with crossed tip Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust left Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right Helmeted, diademed, cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and shield. Helmeted, diademed, cuirassed bust right, holding shield and spear

Theodosius II is one of the less challenging to find emperors of the fifth century. As mentioned under the heading for Arcadius, as the economy of the empire began crumbling there was little incentive to create money for a dysfunctional marketplace and meager resources to do so in any case. And the average citizen who bought and sold goods used not precious coinage by now but, if they used coins at all, the small near-worthless coppers the government made which today we classify as AE4s Almost all of these coins from now until halfway into the reign of Anastasius will measure somewhere between 4-12mm in diameter. They are almost never found with full legends nor full anything for that matter. For this reason most, sadly, are unattributable as found when recovered or even after careful restoration. The easiest ones to ID will be those that make use of monograms unique to each emperor (or empress). Even in a poor state these tiny coins are prized by collectors today as long as they can be attributed. Theodosius II is the first emperor who finally cuts off production of the larger AE3s in favor of the AE4. With very few exceptions this will be the case for the remainder of the century. While not unique to his reign, his AE4s will often feature a simple Christian cross within a wreath as the reverse design. Depending solely on condition, one of these can cost anywhere from $5 to over $100. Many collectors will find that their first ancient Roman gold coin purchase will be of Theodosius II or one of his contemporaries. These are so widely available that they almost come close to becoming a commodity. In todays market a near-mint state Solidus of this reign should cost somewhere between $350 and $600 and are actively traded on eBay as well as the inventories of most major dealers.

Obverses:
1) 2) DN TEODOSIVS PF AVG DN THEODOSIVS PF AVG

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) ADVENTVSS DN AVG CONCORDIA AGV CONCORDIA AVG CONCORDIA AVGG CONCORDIA AVGGG FELICITER NVBTIIS GLOR ORVIS TERRAR GLORIA REIPVBLICAE GLORIA ROMANORVM IMP XXXXII COS XVII PP IMP XXXXIIII COS XVIII SALVS ORIENTIS FELICITAS OCCIDENTIS SALVS REIPVBLICAE SALVS REIPVBLICE SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE VICTORIA AVGG VICTORIA AVGGG VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM VICTORIA ROMANORVM VIRT EXERC ROM VOT XX MVLT XXX VOT XXX MVLT XXXX VRBS ROMA VRTVS ROMANORVM No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) Constantinopolis seated left, stepping on galley prow, holding cross on globe and scepter. Constantinopolis seated left, stepping on galley prow, holding Victory on globe and scepter. Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter and shield reading X / VOT / XX Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter and Victory on globe. Cross Monogram Roma and Constantinopolis seated, facing, each holding a Victory on globe and scepter. Roma and Constantinopolis seated, facing, each holding a scepter and together shield reading VOT / XV / MVL / XX Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe and cross. Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe and spear. Theodosius II advancing right, dragging captive and holding trophy Theodosius II and Honorius standing, facing, each holding a spear and resting hand on shield between them Theodosius II and Valentinian III seated, facing, each holding a mappa and cross; star above Theodosius II and Valentinian III standing, facing, each holding spear and resting hand on shield. Theodosius II and Valentinian III standing, facing, each holding spear and together holding a globe. Theodosius II and Valentinian III standing, facing, each holding spear and together holding cross Theodosius II and Valentinian III standing, facing, holding mappa and cross. Theodosius II riding horse left, raising hand. Theodosius II seated facing on left, holding mappa and cross next to Valentinian III standing to right, holding mappa and cross; star above Theodosius II seated, facing, holding mappa and cross Theodosius II standing, facing, holding labarum and Christogram on globe. Theodosius II standing, facing, holding labarum and cross on globe Theodosius II standing, facing, holding spear and resting hand on shield.

578
24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) 41) 42) 43) 44) 45) 46) 47) 48) Theodosius II standing, facing, raising hand and holding globe Theodosius II, Honorius and Arcadius standing, facing, each holding a spear and resting arm on shield Trophy Valentinian III and Licinia Eudoxia seated, facing, holding hands. Victory advancing forward, holding a wreath in each hand. Victory advancing forward, holding wreath and cross on globe. Victory advancing left, holding trophy and dragging captive Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. Victory advancing right, holding wreath and cross on globe. Victory seated right, holding shield reading X / XXV on lap Victory seated right, holding shield reading X / XXX on lap Victory seated right, holding shield reading X / XXXV on lap Victory seated right, holding shield reading XV / XXX on lap Victory seated right, holding shield reading XX / XXX on lap Victory seated right, holding shield reading XXX / XXXX on lap Victory standing left, holding cross. Victory standing right, stepping on captive, holding standard and Victory on globe. Wreath, cross within Wreath, VOT / MVLT / XXXX within Wreath, VOT / X / MVLT / XX within Wreath, VOT / XV / MVLT / XX within Wreath, VOT / XX / MVLT / XXX within Wreath, VOT / XXX within Wreath, VOT / XXXV / MVLT / XXXX within Wreath, VT / XXX / V within

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) Alexandria Antioch Aquileia Constantinopolis 5) 6) 7) 8) Cyzicus Heraclea Mediolanum Nicomedia 9) 10) 11) Ravenna Roma Thessalonica

AU Medallion
1) B3, O2, R01, T18, M04 Exe: */CONOB

Reference(s)
1- Solidi weight

AU Solidus
2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) B4, O2, R04, T04, M04 Exe: */CONOB B4, O2, R07, T22, M04 Exe: */CONOB B4, O2, R07, T22, M11 Exe: */TESOB B4, O2, R07, T22, M11 Exe: */TESOB B4, O2, R10, T01, M04 Exe: */COMOB B4, O2, R10, T01, M04 Exe: */CONOB B4, O2, R13, T13, M04 Exe: CONOB B4, O2, R13, T19, M04 Exe: CONOB B4, O2, R20, T11, M04 Exe: */CONOB B4, O2, R20, T11, M04 Exe: */CONOB B4, O2, R20, T11, M11 Exe: */TESOB B4, O2, R21, T39, M04 Exe: CONOB B4, O2, R22, T01, M04 Exe: */CONOB B4, O2, R22, T01, M11 Exe: */TESOB B5, O2, R08, T08, M04 Exe: */CONOB

Officina at end of reverse legend Officina at end of reverse legend

Officina at end of reverse legend Officina at end of reverse legend Officina at end of reverse legend Officina at end of reverse legend

RIC 202 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 232 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 361 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 365 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 293 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 323 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 237 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 234 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 261 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 284 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 367 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 219 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 257 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 366 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 207 (X, Theodosius II)

AU Semissis
17) 18) B3, O2, R17, T35, M04 Exe: *//CONOB B3, O2, R17, T37, M04 Exe: *//CONOB RIC 331 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 223 (X, Theodosius II)

AU Tremissis
19) 20) B3, O2, R18, T29, M04 Exe: */CONOB B3, O2, R25, T26, M04 Exe: */*/CONOB RIC 213 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 333 (X, Theodosius II)

AR Miliarense
21) 22) 23) B2, O2, R09, T24, M04 Exe: */CON B3, O2, R09, T23, M04 Exe: */COM B3, O2, R09, T23, M04 Exe: */CON RIC 370 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 392 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 394 (X, Theodosius II)

AR Siliqua
24) 25) B3, O2, R25, T42, M04 Exe: CONS* B3, O2, R25, T45, M04 Exe: CONS* RIC 389 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 381 (X, Theodosius II)

AE2
26) B5, O2, R02, T16, M04 Exe: CONS RIC 460 (X, Theodosius II), L 2231

579
AE3
27) 28) 29) B4, O2, R04, T04, M02 Exe: ANT` B4, O2, R04, T04, M04 Exe: CONS` B4, O2, R04, T04, M08 Exe: SMN`

Reference(s)
RIC 100 (X, Arcadius), L 2799 RIC 90 (X, Arcadius) RIC 93 (X, Arcadius), L 2444

AE4
30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) B3, O2, R03, T28, M05 Exe: SMK` B3, O2, R03, T28, M06 Exe: SMH` B3, O2, R04, T05, M01 Exe: ALE` B3, O2, R09, T12, M06 Exe: SMH` * behind bust B3, O2, R09, T12, M11 Exe: TES` * behind bust B3, O2, R09, T25, M01 Exe: ALE` * behind bust B3, O2, R25, T06, M04 B3, O2, R25, T41, M04 Exe: CONS B3, O2, R25, T41, M05 Exe: SMK` B3, O2, R25, T30, M10 Exe: `/RM RIC 437 (X, Theodosius II), L 2602 RIC 431 (X, Theodosius II), L 2002 RIC 122 (X, Arcadius), L 2922 RIC 398 (X, Theodosius II), L 2001 RIC 396 (X, Theodosius II), L 1877 RIC 159 (X, Arcadius) RIC 444 (X, Theodosius II), L 2239 RIC 449 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 1915 (X, Johannes), L 831

580
Theodosius II Busts

Theodosius II Types

Eudocia
b.393 d.460

Wife of Theodosius II. Remembered for an active role in the early Christian church.

581
Busts:
1) 2) Diademed, draped bust right Diademed, draped bust right; being crowned by Hand of God

Obverse:
1) AEL EVDOCIA AVG

Eudocia, Eudoxia what a difference a letter can make! While Eudoxia may be found routinely among the bronzes those of Eudocia are rarer than her own gold coins which are not exactly common to begin with. Of these, her Tremisses are the most plentiful and can be bought anywhere from $500 to $1,500 and nearly all survive in near-mint condition as far as wear goes. However, they are often scratched or slightly bent; one can presume damage done during the course of informal assaying at the market square.

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) CONCORDIA AVG IMP XXXXII COS XVII PP SALVSREIPVBLICAE VOT XX MVLT XXX VOT XXX MVLT XXXX No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Constantinopolis seated left, holding cross on globe and scepter Eudocia seated, facing, crossing arms across chest. Victory standing left, holding cross; star above Wreath, Chi-Rho within Wreath, cross within

Mint:
1) Constantinopolis

AU Medallion
1) B1, O1, R3, T2 Exe: */CONOB

Reference(s)
Two Solidi weight
RIC 281 (X, Theodosius II)

AU Solidus
2) 3) B2, O1, R4, T3 Exe: CONOB B2, O1, R5, T1 Exe: */CONOB RIC 228 (X, Theodosius II) RIC 262 (X, Theodosius II)

AU Tremissis
4) B1, O1, R6, T5 Exe: CONOB* RIC 253 (X, Theodosius II)

AR Siliqua
5) B1, O1, R6, T5 Exe: CONS* RIC 388 (X, Theodosius II)

AE3
6) B1, O1, R1, T1 Exe: CONS RIC 428 (X, Theodosius II)

Eudocia Busts

Eudocia Types

582
Marcian succeeded Theodosius II upon the emperor's accidental death. It appears a commander by the name of Arbadur was key in securing the post for Marcian and convinced Pulcheria, Theodosius's widow, to not only confirm the nomination but also become his nominal wife, a purely Augustus 450-457 political relationship that was only to strengthen the legitimacy of Marcian's claim to the throne. They would lead separate lives from then on. Marcian proved a capable manager for the eastern seat of the empire and died without incident in 457 of old age.

Marcian

Busts:
1) 2) 3) Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust left Helmeted, diademed, cuirassed bust facing, holding shield and spear.

Marcian is one of the more commonly found Eastern Roman emperors. He ranks fourth behind Anastasius, Theodosius II and Leo I. There are basically just two types of coins that will turn up often in the marketplace; the gold Solidus and the teeny AE4s often called Nummi. The former are a little scarcer than those of the other three emperors named above but not much more expensive and all of them follow the same rather banal themes and portraiture styles. The AE4s are almost always identified thanks to the large monograms on the reverses which are unique to each emperor. The legends almost always are unreadable except for maybe two or three letters. Luckily, these coinis are often found for less than $100 but, be warned, they are almost never very well preserved nor attractive items.

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) DN MARCIANO PF A DN MARCIANO PF AV DN MARCIANVS P AV DN MARCIANVS PERP AVG DN MARCIANVS PF DN MARCIANVS PF AV DN MARCIANVS PF AVG

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) ADVENTVS DN AVG FELICITER NVBTIIS GLOR ORVIS TERRAR GLORIA ROMANORVM VICTORIA AVGGG VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM VOT XXX MVLT XXXX No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) Constantinopolis seated left, holding cross on globe and scepter; shield to side. Marcian and Pulcheria seated, facing, holdings hands; Christ above and between them. Marcian riding horse left, raising hand Marcian standing, facing, holding labarum and cross on globe. Marcian standing, facing, holding spear and resting hand on shield Marcian standing, facing, stepping on snake, holding cross and Victory on globe Victory advancing forward, holding wreath and cross on globe Victory seated right, holding shield reading XV / XXX on lap. Victory standing left, holding cross. Wreath, cross within Wreath, monogram I within Wreath, monogram II within Wreath, monogram III within Wreath, SAL / REI / PVI within Wreath, VOT / MVLT / XXXX within

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) Antioch Cyzicus Heraclea Mediolanum Nicomedia Ravenna Thessalonica

AU Solidus
1) 2) B2, O7, R5, T06 Exe: R/V/CONOB B3, O7, R5, T09 Exe: */CONOB

Reference(s)
RIC 2301 (X, Western) RIC 510 (X, Eastern)

AU Tremissis
3) B1, O7, R6, T07 Exe: */CONOB RIC 518 (X, Eastern)

583
AR Miliarense
4) B1, O7, R4, T05 Exe: */CON

Reference(s)
RIC 526 (X, Eastern)

AR Siliqua
5) B1, O7, R8, T15 Exe: CONS* RIC 528 (X, Eastern)

AE4
6) 7) 8) 9) 10) B1, O2, R8, T12 Exe: CHES B1, O6, R8, T11 Exe: NIC B1, O7, R8, T11 Exe: CON B1, O7, R8, T11 Exe: CON B1, O7, R8, T13 Exe: SMK` * Above monogram Above monogram Above monogram RIC 536 (X, Eastern), L 1880 RIC 545 (X, Eastern), L 2250 RIC 543 (X, Eastern), L 2249 RIC 560 (X, Eastern)

Marcian Busts

Marcian Types

584
Leo was a Thracian soldier who gained enough clout fighting for the armies of Marcian that upon his death he was able to secure the throne. Leo mounted only one major military campaign and it was against the Vandals in Northern Africa. The naval invasion fleet was decimated by the forces of Gaiseric and the unfavorable Augustus 457-474 conclusion of this battle marks the final Roman attempt to recover this key region. The rest of Leo's career was taken up handling the blessing and vetoing of the many puppet emperors during the last years of the West as well as handling various other foreign and domestic matters. Much of Leo's reign was weakened if not outright dominated by several military leaders. He died in 474 of advanced age and was succeeded by his grandson Leo II.

Leo I

Busts:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust left Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right Diademed, bust left, wearing consular robes, holding mappa and cross Helmeted, diademed, cuirassed bust facing, holding spear over shoulder and shield

With the exception of some pretty rare coins that fall into the AE3 and AE2 class of bronzes, Leo sees nothing wrong with continuing half a century of numismatic ennui and recycles the same portraits and the same old reverses of his political ancestors that would go on for another half century or more before finally running their courses. The system is pretty straightforward. On the Solidus the portrait will be the emperors facing bust dressed in the combat gear of the day along with his trusty diadem on the helmet. The smaller gold denominations along with the silver and bronzes will feature the more traditional profile bust. Silver has by now long disappeared except on rare occasions. These will be invariably more expensive than the fairly common Solidi which usually go for around $500 a piece. A high-grade bronze will also fetch top dollar, especially if its one of those rare AE3s or AE2s mentioned above. And the cheapest coins will be the low-grade but fairly common AE4s featuring one of the several different monograms designed for him. These can sometimes be found among uncleaned coins or by sale at around $20-$40 each. Speaking of the monogram, these interesting designs are born from the need to identify the ruler at a glance since the small size of the coins they are struck on prevent easy identification. Their aim is to compress the rulers name into a single symbol which includes all the letters in his name. Or at least try to. For Leo the celator obviously had a much less challenging task than, say, Basiliscus!

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) DN LEO DN LEO PE AVG DN LEO PER AVG DN LEO PERPET DN LEO PERPET AG DN LEO PERPET AV DN LEO PERPET AVG DN LEO PERPETV AVG DN LEO PERPETVVS AVG DN LEO PF AVG DN LEO PF AVGO DN LEO PRPET AG DN LEO PRTE AVG DN LEON PERP AVG DN LEON VG DN LEONIS PF R AVG DN LEONIS PP A AVG DN LEONIS PP AVG DN LEONS PF AVG DN LEOS PF AVG DN EONS PF AVG

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) GLORIA ROMANORVM GLORORVS TERRRAL SALVS REIPVBLICAE SALVS REIRVBLICAE C SALVS RPVBLICA SALVS RPVRLCA VICTORIA AVGG VICTORIA AVGGG VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM VICTORIA ROMANORVM VIRTVS AVGVSTI VIRTVS EXERCITI VOT XXX MVLT XXXX No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) Leo I and Leo II seated, facing, with cross in between; star above each of them. Leo I seated, facing, holding mappa and cross Leo I standing right, stepping on captive, holding labarum and globe Leo I standing, facing, holding cross and resting hand on kneeling captive. Leo I standing, facing, holding cross on globe and labarum Leo I standing, facing, holding spear and resting hand on shield. Leo I standing, facing, raising hand and holding globe. Leo I standing, facing, stepping on snake, holding cross and Victory on globe Monogram I Monogram II Roma and Constantinopolis seated, facing, each holding Victory on globe and scepter; cross between them. Verina standing, facing, holding cross on globe and scepter; b E across fields Victory advancing forward, holding wreath and cross on globe Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm.

585
15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) Victory seated right, holding shield reading XVXXX Victory seated right, holding shield reading XXV Victory seated right, holding shield reading XXXX Victory standing left, holding cross Wreath, Chi-Rho within Wreath, cross within Wreath, lion seated left within. Wreath, lion seated left within; cross atop. Wreath, lion standing left within; star above. Wreath, lion standing right within; star above. Wreath, SAL / REI / PVI within (letters usually very garbled) Wreath, VOT / XXXV / MVLT / XXXX within

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Alexandria Antioch Constantinopolis Cyzicus Heraclea 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) Mediolanum Nicomedia Ravenna Roma Thessalonica

AU Solidus
1) 2) 3) 4) B4, O07, R08, T02, M10 Exe: */THSOB B5, O07, R04, T01, M03 Exe: CONOB B5, O07, R08, T18, M03 Exe: */CONOB Officina at end of reverse legend B5, O07, R08, T18, M10 Exe: */*/TESOB

Reference(s)
RIC X 620 RIC X 638 RIC X 605 RIC X 618

AU Tremissis
5) B2, O07, R09, T13, M03 Exe: */CONOB RIC X 611

AR Miliarense
6) 7) B1, O07, R01, T07, M03 Exe: */CON B2, O07, R01, T07, M03 Exe: */CON RIC X 644 RIC X 641

AR Siliqua
8) B2, O07, R14, T25, M03 Exe: CONS* RIC X 648

AR Siliqua
9) B2, O06, R14, T25, M03 Exe: CONS* RIC X 650

AE3
10) 11) B2, O07, R05, T03, M03 Exe: CON B2, O07, R06, T03, M03 Exe: CON RIC X 660 RIC X 657

AE4
12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) B2, O01, R14, T04, M03 Exe: */CN B2, O01, R14, T04, M03 B2, O01, R14, T10, M03 Exe: KOC B2, O01, R14, T12, M03 B2, O01, R14, T21, M03 Exe: CON B2, O04, R14, T09, M03 B2, O04, R14, T12, M03 B2, O10, R14, T09, M03 B2, O10, R14, T21, M03 Exe: CON B2, O21, R14, T09, M03 RIC X 703, L 2268 RIC X 704, L 2269 RIC X 720, L 2270 RIC X 715, L 2272 RIC X 676 RIC X 680 RIC X 718, L 2274 RIC X 684 RIC X 674, L 2260 RIC X 686, L 2263

586
Leo I Busts

Leo I Types

587
Wife of Leo I, sister of Basiliscus and mother of Ariadne. Verina would play a key role in the ousting of Zeno and then her brother Basiliscus. Probably to cover up a scandalous affair and political advantage she turned against Basiliscus to support her former enemy Zeno ? - d.488? who had been in exile. Zeno mistrusted her even though her aid was crucial in his reinstatement and had her exiled. Because she probably felt betrayed she once again turned against him and supported the failed coup of Leontius. She apparently lost her life during the usurper's siege.

Verina

Busts:
1) 2) Diademed, draped bust right Diademed, draped bust right, being crowned by Hand of God

Save for an AE4 of Leo Is which depicts her effigy on the reverse, Verinas coins are all ridiculously rare and expensive. As is typical for the period, a few bronzes were struck in her name. What is unusual is that these are rather large in comparison to the tiny coins being made in copper. But, really, this is all academic since they for the most part do not circulate in the market. The Leo AE4 mentioned above is sometimes to be found for a few dollars each but are almost always in a very sorry state of preservation. The best bet to find a real coin of Verina will be a Tremissis for two or three thousand dollars. That is, if a dealer can locate one at all.

Obverse:
1) AEL VERINA AVG

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) SALVS REIPVBLICAE SALVS REPVBLICAE VICTORIA AVGGG No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) Victory seated right, holding shield with Chi-Rho on column Victory standing left, holding cross Wreath, cross within

Mint:
1) Constantinopolis

AU Solidus
1) B2, O1, R3, T2 Exe: */CONOB

Reference(s)
Officina at end of reverse legend
RIC 607 (X, Leo I)

AU Tremissis
2) B2, O1, R4, T3 Exe: CONOB RIC 614 (X, Leo I)

AE3
3) 4) B2, O1, R1, T1 Exe: CON` B2, O1, R2, T1 Exe: CON` RIC 655 (X, Leo I), L 2253 RIC 656 (X, Leo I), L 2253

Verina Busts

Verina Types

588

Leo II
Augustus 474

Leo II was the child grandson of Leo by the marriage of his daughter Ariadne and his favorite general Tarasicodissa (later Zeno). When Leo I died, Leo II was still only five or six years old and thus a regent was necessary. To this end, just three weeks later his own father, Zeno, assumed co-emperorship with him and the two ruled jointly until Leo's own death later in the year of an unidentified illness left Zeno to rule by himself.

Bust:
1) 2) Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right Helmeted, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust facing

Obverse:
1) 2) 3) DN LEO ET ZENO PP AVG DN LEO PERPET AVG DN LEO ZENO PP AVG

Only a large bank account and a small miracle are needed in order to find one of these coins. Leo II enjoyed a reign measured in days over 1,500 years ago. Constantinople only had time to make a handful coins during this brief period. Because his name was the same of that of his predecessor and the coin portraits mere effigies one could make the argument that there is no way to be certain that the coins presently attributed to his sole reign were beyond a doubt made for him. Curiously, the western emperor Julius Nepos rose to power while Leo II and his father Zeno were by then ruling jointly. For reasons that remain unclear, Nepos struck a few of his own coins honoring Leo II but leaving Zenos name off. While there seems to be no political motive for the snub, back in Constantinople the standard practice had been to have both names on every coin issued. So at least technically, those coins minted in Italy during this time could be considered the only ones in the name of Leo II alone. Unfortunately for you, those coins are hardly any less rare! However, there are many coins of his along with his father which are much more common and cost from a few hundred dollars each to a couple thousand or so. Reference(s)
RIC X 801 RIC X 3203 RIC X 803

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) SALVS REIPVBLICAE VICTORIA AVGGG VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) Leo II and Zeno seated, facing, each holding a mappa; star and cross above Leo II standing, facing, holding cross on globe. Victory advancing forward, holding wreath and cross on globe Victory standing left, holding cross

Mints:
1) 2) Constantinopolis Roma

AU Solidus
1) 2) 3) 4) B2, O2, R1, T2, M1 Exe: */CONOB B2, O2, R2, T4, M2 Exe: */COMOB B2, O1, R1, T1, M1 Exe: CONOB B2, O3, R1, T1, M1 Exe: CONOB

AU Tremissis
5) B1, O1, R1, T3, M1 Exe: */CONOB RIC X 807

Leo II Busts

Leo II Types

589
Zeno was an Eastern emperor during the waning days of the empire. His career was recorded through a series of endless plots against him which failed to oust him from power entirely. Indeed, he even served as emperor-in-exile during a revolt that briefly saw Basiliscus rise to the throne in 475. He eventually recaptured the Augustus 474-491 throne himself to resume a rocky relationship with the Western half of the empire as well as frequent domestic problems of every sort. Following the favorable resolution of the Basiliscus affair he had ample time as well to watch the final collapse of the Western half of the empire. As he had no resources to contend with the Germanic tribesmen who were exerting ever more control over the former empire, he could do little more than accept the inevitable outcome. Although this made him nominally ruler of the entire Roman empire after the death of Julius Nepos in 480, in practice he held no sway at all in any of the former Roman provinces. In the end, one of his most remarkable feats was the very fact that he was able to survive for so long in this strife-ridden age.

Zeno

Busts:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Diademed (pearls), draped and bearded bust left, holding mappa and scepter Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right Helmeted, diademed, cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and shield Helmeted, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right Laureate head right

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) DN ZENO ET LEO NOV CAES DN ZENO ET LIEO NOV CAES DN ZENO N PE AG DN ZENO N PE VG DN ZENO PEPR AVG DN ZENO PER F AVG DN ZENO PERP AVG DN ZENO PERP F AV DN ZENO PERP F AVG DN ZENO PERPE AVG DN ZENO PERPET AVG DN ZENO PERT AVG DN ZENO PF AV IMP ZENO SEMPER AVG INP ZEMP FELICISSIMO SEN AVG

Zeno continues the currency policies of his political ancestors. He will introduce no new denominations, designs or any sort of alterations beyond the ZENO on the legends where appropriate. As far as he was concerned, if it aint broke, well, dont go breaking it. As was the case with Leo and Marcian before him, the Solidus is easily available today for around $400-$600 each and Tremisses for about half that much. As was not the case with those two, however, bronzes have become rarer. Or, that is, rarer to find in a state that allows for positive identification. The one saving grace is that Zeno, too, had a monogram for use on his own AE4s which, thanks to their nature, make attribution considerably easier. You might as well forget about trying to get one that has readable legends though. Those are truly rare in that sort of condition and when offered for sale will easily rival the gold coins in cost.

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) CONCORDIA P GLORIA ROMANORO GLORORVS TERRAR INVICTA ROMA SALVS REIPVBLICE VICTORIA AVGG VICTORIA AVGGG VICTORIA AVGVSTORIVM VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM VOT XX MVLT XX No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) Constantinopolis standing left, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter and cornucopia Eagle perched on branch, cross above Legend SE CN Monogram I Monogram II Victory advancing forward, holding wreath and cross on globe. Victory advancing left, holding labarum and dragging captive Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. Victory advancing right, holding wreath and trophy. Victory seated right, holding shield reading VXX; cuirass to left Victory seated right, holding shield reading XXXV; cuirass to left Victory standing left on globe, holding wreath and palm. Victory standing left, holding cross. Victory standing right, holding cross. Wreath, Chi-Rho within Wreath, cross within Wreath, SE CN within. Wreath, SRI / REI / RVL within Wreath, TOV/VIMV/MTI within.

590
20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) Wreath, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and dragging captive within. Type also features vestigial legend approximating DN LEON AVG Wreath, VOT / VMTI / LTIS within Zeno seated, facing, holding mappa and scepter with crossed tip. Zeno standing right, holding cross and globe Zeno standing right, stepping on captive, holding labarum and globe Zeno standing, facing, holding labarum and cross on globe. Zeno standing, facing, holding spear and resting hand on shield.

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) Antioch Constantinopolis Cyzicus Mediolanum 5) 6) 7) 8) Nicomedia Ravenna Roma Thessalonica

AU Solidus
1) 2) B3, O07, R07, T13, M2 Exe: */CONOB Officina at end of reverse legend B3, O07, R07, T13 Exe: */COMOB : symbol at end of reverse legend

Reference(s)
RIC X 905 RIC X 3205

AU Semissis
3) B2, O07, R06, T10, M2 Exe: *//CONOB RIC X 913

AU Tremissis
4) 5) B2, O07, R08, T06, M2 Exe: */CONOB B2, O07, R09, T06, M2 Exe: */CONOB RIC X 914

AR Siliqua
6) B5, O07, R11, T18, M2 Exe: CON RIC X 944

AR Siliqua
7) B2, O07, R11, T01, M4 M D across fields RIC X 3616

AE1
8) B2, O14, R04, T09, M7 Exe: S/C/XL Bust exe: IIII RIC X 3667

AE3
9) 10) 11) 12) B2, O03, R11, T20 in left field B2, O04, R11, T20 in left field B2, O07, R01, T24, M2 B4, O03, R11, T20 in left field RIC X 949 RIC X 948 RIC X 947

AE4
13) 14) 15) B2, O13, R11, T01, M4 M D across fields B2, O13, R11, T04 B2, O13, R11, T05 RIC X 3616 RIC X 973

591
Zeno Busts

Zeno Types

592

Ariadne
b. ca.450 d.515
Bust:
1) Diademed, draped bust right, wearing necklace and earrings

Wife of Zeno, then Anastasius. Ariadne was also the daughter of Verina, Leo I's wife and to her most of all does Anastasius owe his title of Augustus after Zeno's death.

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) AEL ARIADNE AVG AEL ARIAUNE AVG AEL ARIAYNE AVG

Ironic, isnt it, that of all the Roman empresses the wife of two different, long-reigning emperors would be among the very rarest to be found today? Despite being associated with the Eastern Roman Imperial court for over 60 years there are only a handful of coins left of her and since none of them are on sale, ever, they may well be considered priceless.

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) VICTORIA AVGGG VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) Victory advancing forward, holding wreath and cross on globe Victory standing right, holding cross. Wreath, cross within

Mint:
1) Constantinopolis

AU Tremissis
1) B1, O2, R3, T3

Reference(s)
RIC X 935

593
History remembers Basiliscus in an unfavorable light for his biggest accomplishment seems to have been the annihilation of a large fleet sent to deal with the Vandals of Northern Africa. The circumstances for this disaster remain clouded under some controversy but it seems certain that as he approached the Vandal Augustus 475-476 capital their leader sent a boat full of gold to halt the invasion. Basiliscus may well have sold out his countrymen and the cause for the loot. With the bought time, and probably more than a little proactive help on the part of Basiliscus, the Vandals were able to mount a quick counteroffensive and rout the would-be conquerors. Following an investigation, Basiliscus managed to avoid being executed for the military blunder with the help of well-placed connections. Instead, through luck and lack of more able leaders, the Senate ratified him as the Eastern emperor in 475. Here his lackluster performance carried over in the form of passing law after unpopular law which seemed to alienate everyone who could've been in a position to help him. Years before, a series of plots engineered by the ranking elite in Constantinople forced the then-emperor Zeno to flee. Now the very same people who did this were recalling the former emperor back in light of the gross mismanagement of Basiliscus. One by one his supporters switched sides to Zeno. Basiliscus did what he could to appease his dwindling support net but it was a day late and a dollar short. In 476 Zeno returned to Constantinople, captured Basiliscus and sent him and his whole family off to an island where they were executed by starvation.

Basiliscus

Busts:
1) 2) Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right Helmeted, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust facing holding spear over shoulder and shield

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) DN BASIL ET MAR P AVG DN BASILISCI ET MARC P AVG DN BASILISCI ET MARCI C DN BASILISCVS PE AVG DN BASILISCVS PERT AVG DN BASILISCVS PF AVG DN BASILISCVS PP AVG DN BASILISCVS PRET AVG No legend

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) GLORIA ROMANORVM SALVS REIPVBLICAE SALVS REIPVRLICAE VICTORIA AVGG VICTORIA AVGGG VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM VRBIS ROMA No legend

Coins of Basiliscus are found bearing his name alone as well as with his brother Marcus whom he briefly recognized as co-emperor. However, none are known in the name of Marcus alone. And this is all mostly academic since these coins are generally very rare to begin with. While there is no such thing as a census of remaining coins for any given emperor or type one could make an educated guess that there are probably less than a hundred or two coins of Basiliscus (with or without his brother) accounted for the whole world over. There are probably many hundreds or thousands at the bottom of the Mediterranean but until those are recovered if they ever are finding one for sale will be a challenge. And then paying for one will give your budget a whallop. Although a few tiny bronzes have been identified, mostly thanks to his distinctive monogram, these are even rarer than the gold pieces and likely to cost just as much. A few tremisses and Solidi have been seen to cost under a thousand dollars each but more typically they go for quite a bit more.

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) Basiliscus and Marcus seated, facing, each holding a mappa and globe Basiliscus standing, holding spear and resting left hand on shield. Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter and cornucopia. Monogram Roma seated, facing, holding Victory on globe and spear. Victory seated right holding shield reading XXXX Victory standing left, holding cross. Victory standing, facing, holding wreath and cross on globe. Wreath, cross within

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Constantinopolis Cyzicus Mediolanum Nicomedia Roma Thessalonica

594
AU Solidus
1) 2) B2, O2, R5, T7, M1 Exe: */CONOB B2, O7, R5, T7, M1 Exe: */CONOB

Reference(s)
RIC X 1024 RIC X 1003

AU Tremissis
3) 4) B1, O2, R6, T8, M1 Exe: */CONOB B1, O7, R6, T8, M1 Exe: */CONOB RIC X 1030 RIC X 1008

AE4
5) B1, O1, R8, T4, M2 Exe: CVZ RIC X 1034

Basiliscus Busts

Basiliscus Types

595

Zenonis
? d.476
Bust:
1) Diademed, draped bust right

Wife of Basiliscus, who was starved to death along with him after Zeno was restored to the throne.

Obverses:
1) 2) A ZENONIS AEL ZENONIS AVG

Among the very rarest of rulers, this obscure empress is represented on only a small handful of surviving coins most of which are chewed up remnants of the tiny coppers of the age and which can be attributed thanks only to her distinctinctive monogram. A Solidus or two bounce around at the rate of once or twice every decade or two and its probably only a matter of time before all of them find permanent homes in museums. The AE4s come up for sale almost as infrequently but at least theres a reasonable chance that more of them may be found in the Balkans in the coming years.

Reverses:
1) 2) VICTORIA AVGGG No legend

Types:
1) 2) Monogram Victory standing left, holding cross.

Mint:
1) Constantinopolis

AU Solidus
1) B1, O2, R1, T2 Exe: */CONOB Officina at end of reverse legend

Reference(s)
RIC X 1004

AE4
2) B1, O1, R2, T1 RIC X 1018

596
Leontius of Isauria, not to be confused with the better known Byzantine emperor of the same name, was one of the early usurpers to the Eastern crown. He was raised to emperor by an army rebelling against Zeno. The revolt he led quickly bogged down in loyalist resistance and he was forced to retreat to Antioch Augustus 484-488 where a siege was laid out at once. He held out in his compound in nearby Cherris for four years before his compatriots betrayed him to the besiegers. He was promptly executed afterwards. His authentic coins are exceedingly rare. RIC records all of three solidi for his reign with fakes outnumbering the genuine ones many times over.

Leontius I

Bust:
1) Helmeted, cuirassed, diademed bust facing, holding spear and shield.

Obverses:
1) 2) DN LEONTIO PERPS AVG DN LEOTIO PERPS AVG

The coins of this rare usurper have apparently never been offered for sale to the public. This means that unless new ones are found a peek in a display case in a museum is about as close as you get to one. However remote the possibility of new coins turning up for Leontius this does have a history of happening for other emperors so at least the hope for such a discovery would be justifiable. Slightly. The greater danger will be discerning a real coin from the many attempts at forgery. For this reason it would be very wise to have a coin attributed to this or any other rare emperor authenticated by a numismatic expert.

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) VICTORA AVGG VICTORIA AVGG VICTRA AOGG

Type:
1) Victory standing left, holding cross.

Mint:
1) Antioch

AU Solidus
1) B1, O1, R2, T1 Exe: */ANTOB

Reference(s)
RIC 1101

597
In a larger context the Byzantine empire as such could be said to have started when the ancient city of Byzantium was renamed Constantinople by Constantine I and made a political axis on a par with Rome. Numismatic historians, however, classify Anastasius as the last Roman Emperor and the first Byzantine one. Although Augustus 491-518 he considered himself "Roman", along with all future Byzantine emperors, his choice in 498 to discard the then monetary system in favor of a new, more Greek-aligned one was a lasting landmark of profound significance. Culturally, the Byzantines were always Greek under their skin and as the influence of the Romans waned there was ever less reason to reflect what to them was a foreign culture even at an official level. Within another hundred years most distinctly Roman traits had been supplanted by the new zeitgeist which better served, after all, a Greek citizenry.

Anastasius I

During his reign he consolidated power in what was left of the eastern half of the empire and gave up for lost the barbarian-infested western one. To his credit, he was a shrewd administrator and settled several favorable trade treaties which started off the Byzantine period on sound financial footing.

Note: So little care has gone into the engraving of the legends during and after this reign that only the primary legend forms will be catalogued. Blunders and minor variations are to be expected.
Busts:
1) 2) 3) Diademed bust left, wearing consular robes, holding mappa and cross Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right Helmeted, cuirassed bust facing, holding spear over shoulder and shield

Although he was never any the wiser himself, Anastasius stood at a sort of historical crossroads. Several years after becoming emperor he decided hed had it with the currency system as it stood and put into effect a series of reforms that forever changes the Roman numismatic legacy. First and most far-reaching he reintroduced the Follis which was last seen in its full weight two hundred years before. He tariffed this coin as worth 40 of the little old AE4s that up until then had been the backbone of small commerce. These now get the formal name of Nummus whence we get numismatics today. Although very important as a keystone in currency the actual coins are now largely phased out of production and exist mostly as multiples with the 40-nummus Follis and 20-nummus half Follis being made in great quantities. And this reform kicks in the Byzantine period which will last for nearly another millennium. Legends gradually shed their Latin characters in favor of Greek and, as elsewhere with this culture, art begins to acquire a strong Eastern Christian flavor. While Anastasius tinkered with the bronze coinage he left the time-honored Solidus and its ancillary fractions alone. The collector should be reminded that the bronzes and precious metal coinage existed almost in two separate dichotomies. While everyday trade at the market was facilitated by this copper small change, bullion and barter, the gold coins (and even more rarely now the silver ones) were used primarily to pay soldiers and reserved for other government transactions. For pre-reform bronze coins of Anastasius one finds the relatively elusive tiny AE4s typical of the other eastern emperors before him and are found usually in such poor condition that they defy attribution. The post-reform bronzes are much easier to locate and even though they, too, were made of cheap alloys subject to corrosion their size is usally large enough that they remain identifiable. These early Byzantine coins are sold from the dirtcheap eyesores to over $200 for pristine bronzes regardless of denomination. The gold coins, primarily the Solidus and the Tremissis, can be purchased for around $500 and $200 respectively.

Obverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) DN ANASTASIO PP AVG DN ANASTASIVS PERP AVG DN ANASTASIVS PF AVG DN ANASTASIVS PP A DN ANASTASIVS PP AV DN ANASTASIVS PP AVG

Reverses:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) CONCORD GLORIA ROMANORVM GLOR ORVS TRRA SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE VICTORIA AVGGG VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM No legend

Types:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) Anastasius seated, facing, holding akakia and cross on globe Anastasius standing, facing, holding spear and resting hand on shield Circle, monogram within Large letter E Large letter I Large letter K, cross to left Large letter M, cross above Victory advancing forward, holding wreath and cross on globe Victory seated right, holding shield reading XXXX Victory standing left, holding scepter with Christogram (Type I, see photo at section end) Victory standing left, holding scepter with Christogram (Type II) Victory standing left, holding cross. Wreath, VOT / MVLT / MTI within

Mints:
1) 2) 3) 4) Antioch Constantinopolis Nicomedia Thessalonica

598
AU Solidus
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) B1, O6, R4, T01, M2 Exe: */CONOB B3, O6, R5, T10, M2 Exe: */CONOB B3, O6, R5, T11, M2 Exe: */CONOB B3, O6, R5, T12, M2 Exe: */*/CONOB B3, O6, R5, T12, M2 Exe: */CONOB

Reference(s)
Officina at end of reverse legend Officina at end of reverse legend Officina at end of reverse legend
SB 4 SB 5 SB 30 SB 3

AU Semissis
6) B2, O6, R5, T09, M2 Exe: *//CONOB SB 6

AU Tremissis
7) B2, O6, R6, T08, M2 Exe: */CONOB SB 8

AR Miliarense
8) B2, O6, R3, T02, M4 Exe: */THSOB

AR Siliqua
9) B2, O6, R7, T13, M2 Exe: CONOS* SB 11

AE Follis (40 Nummus)

10) 11) 12) 13) B2, O6, R7, T07, M2 Exe: `/CON * on either side of M (and above and below each *) B2, O6, R7, T07, M2 Exe: `/CON * on either side of M B2, O6, R7, T07, M2 Exe: `/CON * to left of M B2, O6, R7, T07, M2 Exe: CON SB 21 SB 16 SB 14

AE Follis (20 Nummus)

14) B2, O6, R7, T07, M2 Exe: CON Officina to right of K SB 14

Note: In the smaller denominations the obverse legend is almost always abbreviated in arbitrary fashion to read, roughly, DN ANAS PP AVG. However, these legends are only very rarely readable in their entirety.
AE 5 Nummus
15) 16) B2, O?, R7, T04, M2 B2, O?, R7, T04, M2 above and below central line of the E and officina to right Officina to right of the E SB 29 SB 29

AE4
17) B2, O?, R7, T03, M2 SB 13

Anastasius I Busts

599
Anastasius I Types

600

Anonymous Coinage

During various periods of the Roman Imperial age a relatively small series of coins were issued without either the reigning emperors portrait nor a legend that explicitly mentions him.

Some of these were minted during civil wars at a time when no clear successor had yet been found. At others, the coins seem to been minted in honor of a particularly important event that transcended even the ephemeral position of the current emperor. And yet others seem to have served a very specific role within a closed community such as miners scrip money. The most famous and available of these coins are those struck in commemoration of the founding of Constantinople. As the old city of Byzantium was renamed after Constantine it assumed an importance that, politically and culturally, would rival Rome itself. To leave no doubt as to its new status, millions of bronze coins were made in roughly equal quantities of two main types. The first featured on the obverse personification of Rome while the second that of Constantinopolis. Both types may be found today as among the most commonly available of late Roman coinage and were minted in every operational mint at the time of issue; roughly the years 330-340. AR Types: 1. Denarius Obv: No legend - Wreath, SPQR within Rev: SALVS GENERIS HVMANI Victory standing right on globe, holding palm and wreath
Issued during the civil war following Neros death. RIC 73b, C 421

2. Denarius Obv: FIDES / EXERCITVVM Hands, in handshake Rev: FIDES / PRAETORIANORVM Hands, in handshake
Also issued during the civil war of 68-69. RIC 121, BMC 65, C 363

3. Half Siliqua (Approx. 1.3g) Obv: No legend Star Rev: No legend - Wreath
Presumably struck shortly after the death of Helena c.326 in memoriam.

4. Half Siliqua (Approx. 1.3g) Obv: No legend Helmeted, draped and cuirassed bust of Roma right Rev: No legend Large K
The obverse most likely represents the personification of Rome and, this being the case, the coin would have been a commemorative associated with the founding of Constantinopolis. The large K on the reverse remains somewhat of a mystery. David Vagi asserts it stands for Constantinopolis though it was usually spelled with a C during the fourth century. C.330

5. Third of Siliqua (Approx. 1.15g) Obv: No legend Helena diademed, draped bust right, wearing necklace Rev: No legend Large K
Another posthumous coin of Helena, easily identifiable by her portrait despite the lack of an affirming legend. c.330.
Vagi 3052

601
6. Third of Siliqua Obv: No legend Helmeted, draped and cuirassed bust of Roma right Rev: No legend Large R
In this case the R in reverse can more easily be explained as standing for Rome. c.330

AE Types: 7. Tessera (Approx. 4 - 7g) Obv: No legend Couple in erotic embrace, lying down. Rev: No legend Wreath, V within
An erotic token of extra-official provenance and uncertain value. Probably used outside of mainstream commerce and rare within its own time. c.14-34

8. Semis (Approx. 3 - 4g) Obv: No legend Woman, draped bust right Rev: METAL / AVRELIA / NIS
Throughout the empire there were many mines that contracted a large labor force along with the slave labor pressed into duty. These coins were likely used for their limited purchasing needs inside of their communities. c.161-180

9. Quadrans (Approx. 2.5 - 3.5g) Obv: No legend Mars helmeted, cuirassed bust right Rev: Cuirass
c.81-161 RIC II, 21

10. Quadrans (Approx. 2.5 - 3.5g) Obv: No legend Rhinoceros advancing left Rev: Laurel branch, S C across fields
c.81-161 RIC II, 36

11. Quadrans (Approx. 2.5 - 3.5g) Obv: ROMA Helmeted, draped bust of Roma right Rev: DARDANICI Dardania standing left, holding wheat ears and raising skirt.
Another issue associated with mine use. c.100-140 RIC 1016 (II, Hadrian)

12. Quadrans (Approx. 2.5 - 3.5g) Obv: No legend Pegasus seated left, wheel to left. Rev: No legend Altar; S C across fields
Ca. 70-100

602
13. AE3 Constantinople Commemorative Type I Obv: VRBS ROMA Roma, helmeted, draped and cuirassed bust left Rev: Wreath, VOT / XX / MVLT / XXX within
See catalog at end of section

14. AE3 Constantinople Commemorative Type II Obv: CONSTANTINOPOLI Constantinopolis helmeted, draped and cuirassed bust
left, holding scepter Rev: GLORIA EXERCITVS Two soldiers standing either side of a standard, each holding a spear and resting hand on a shield.

15. AE3 Constantinople Commemorative Type III Obv: CONSTANTINOPOLIS Constantinopolis helmeted, draped and cuirassed bust
left, holding scepter. Rev: No legend Victory standing left, stepping on galley prow, cradling scepter and resting hand on shield.

See catalog at end of section

16. AE3 Constantinople Commemorative Type IV Obv: VRBS ROMA Roma, helmeted, draped and cuirassed bust left Rev: GLORIA EXERCITVS Two soldiers standing either side of a standard, each
holding a spear and resting hand on a shield.

See catalog at end of section

17. AE3 Constantinople Commemorative Type V Obv: ROMA Roma, helmeted, draped and cuirassed bust left Rev: No legend Wolf standing left, suckling Romulus and Remus.
See catalog at end of section

18. AE1 Obv: CONSTANTINOPOLIS Constantinopolis helmeted, cuirassed bust right, holding
scepter over shoulder. Rev: VICTORIA AVG Victory seated left, stepping on galley prow, holding branch and cornucopia. RIC 303 (VII, Rome)

19. AE4 Obv: GENIO ANTOCHENI - Genius of Antioch seated, facing; Orontes swimming
below.

Rev: APOLLONI SANCTO Exe: /SMA - Apollo standing left, holding patera and lyre.
Semi-autonomous issue under Maximinus II, 'The last civic coinages and the religious policy of Maximinus Daza', J. van Heesch. c.310 (Antioch).

603
20. AE4 Obv: IOVI CONSERVATORI Jupiter seated left, holding globe and scepter. Rev: VICTORIA AVGG Exe: /ANT Victory advancing left, holding wreath and
palm.

21. AE4 Obv: DEO SANCTO SARAPIDI - Serapis head right. Rev: DEO SANCTO NILO - Nilus laying left, holding reed and cornucopia.

22. AE1 Obv: Isis diademed, draped bust right Rev: VOTA P PVBLICA Isis riding chariot with two mules left, holding sistrum.

23. AE3 Obv: ISIS FARIA Isis draped bust left, holding sistrum and fruit dish Rev: VOTA PVBLICA Isis seated, facing, holding Horus

24. AE4 Obv: DEO SERAPI Serapis draped bust left Rev: VOTA PVBLICA Sphinx poised right

25. AE4 Obv: POP ROMANVS - Roma laureate, draped bust left, holding cornucopia Rev: Bridge
Var. (a) mintmark CONS`, (b) mintmark CONS over ` RIC 21 (VIII, Rome), L 1066

26. AE4 Obv: POP ROMANVS - Roma laureate, draped bust left, holding cornucopia Rev: No legend Exe: CONS` Wreath, star within.
Var. (a) mintmark above star, (b) mintmark below star RIC 22 (VIII, Rome), L 1067

604
27. AE4 Obv: Roma - Roma helmeted, cuirassed bust right. Rev: No legend Roma standing left, holding spear and resting hand on shield; P R
across fields RIC 104 (VIII, Rome), L 611

28. AE4 Obv: Constantinopolis diademed, draped bust right Rev: No legend Pax standing left, holding branch and scepter; P R across fields
RIC 106 (VIII, Rome)

AE3 Constantinople Commemorative Type I

24) 25) Exe: SMH` (Heraclea) Exe: SMN` (Nicomedia)

Reference(s)
RIC 56 (VIII, Heraclea), L 960 RIC 53 (VIII, Nicomedia), L 1151

AE3 Constantinople Commemorative Type III

26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) 41) 42) 43) 44) 45) 46) 47) 48) 49) 50) 51) 52) 53) 54) 55) Exe: */AQ` (Aquileia) Exe: *SMK` (Cyzicus) Exe: `LG (Lugdunum) Exe: >/`CONST (Arelate) Exe: /`CONST (Arelate) Exe: /`CONST (Arelate) Exe: O/`CONST (Arelate) Exe: /SMH` (Heraclea) Exe: `LG (Lugdunum) Exe: `SIS (Siscia) Exe: CONS` (Constantinopolis) Exe: SMH (Heraclea) Exe: SMH (Heraclea) Exe: SMH` (Heraclea) Exe: SMK` (Cyzicus) Exe: CONS` (Constantinopolis) Exe: CONS` (Constantinopolis) Exe: F/AQ` (Aquileia) Exe: RB` (Roma) Exe: RF` (Roma) Exe: SMAL` (Alexandria) Exe: SMAL` (Alexandria) Exe: SMAN` (Antioch) Exe: SMH` (Heraclea) Exe: SMK` (Cyzicus) Exe: SMN` (Nicomedia) Exe: SMTS` (Thessalonica) Exe: TR`* (Treveri) Exe: TR` (Treveri) Exe: TR` (Treveri) RIC 129 (VII, Aquileia) RIC 120 (VII, Cyzicus) RIC 251 (VII, Lyons) RIC 380 (VII, Arelate) RIC 386 (VII, Arelate) RIC 369 (VII, Arelate) RIC 416 (VII, Arelate) RIC 135 (VII, Heraclea) RIC 246 (VII, Lyons) RIC 241 (VII, Siscia) RIC 86 (VII, Constantinople) RIC 120 (VII, Heraclea) RIC 120 (VII, Heraclea) RIC 125 (VII, Heraclea) RIC 107 (VII, Cyzicus) RIC 63 (VII, Constantinople) RIC 79 (VII, Constantinople) RIC 137 (VII, Aquileia) RIC 339 (VII, Rome) RIC 332 (VII, Rome) RIC 17 (VIII, Alexandria), L 1441 RIC 27 (VIII, Alexandria), L 1444 RIC 92 (VII, Antioch) RIC 115 (VII, Heraclea) RIC 93 (VII, Cyzicus) RIC 196 (VII, Nicomedia) RIC 188 (VII, Thessalonica) RIC 548 (VII, Trier) RIC 563 (VII, Trier) RIC 530 (VII, Trier)

AE3 Constantinople Commemorative Type IV

56) 57) Exe: CONS` (Constantinopolis) Exe: SMH` (Heraclea) RIC 154 (VII, Constantinople) RIC 156 (VII, Heraclea)

AE1 Constantinople Commemorative Type V

58) [No marks in exergue] RIC 349 (VII, Rome)

AE3 Constantinople Commemorative Type V

59) 60) 61) 62) 63) 64) 65) 66) 67) 68) 69) 70) Exe: *SMK` (Cyzicus) Exe: ;/SMH` (Heraclea) Exe: ;/SMN` (Nicomedia) Exe: `SIS (Siscia) Exe: `LG (Lugdunum) Exe: /`CONST (Arelate) Exe: =/`CONST (Arelate) Exe: /`CONST (Arelate) Exe: /`CONST (Arelate) Exe: `SIS (Siscia) Exe: SMH` (Heraclea) Exe: CONS` (Constantinopolis) RIC 72 (VII, Cyzicus) RIC 129 (VII, Heraclea) RIC 195 (VII, Nicomedia) RIC 222 (VII, Siscia), L 745 RIC 252 (VII, Lyons) RIC 368 (VII, Arles) RIC 373 (VII, Arles) RIC 385 (VII, Arles) RIC 400 (VII, Arles) RIC 240 (VII, Siscia), L 750 RIC 134 (VII, Heraclea) RIC 85 (VII, Constantinople)

605
71) 72) 73) 74) 75) 76) 77) 78) 79) 80) 81) 82) 83) 84) 85) 86) 87) 88) Exe: SMH` (Heraclea) Exe: SMH` (Heraclea) Exe: SMK` (Cyzicus) Exe: SMN` (Nicomedia) Exe: CONS` (Constantinopolis) Exe: CONS` (Constantinopolis) Exe: F/AQ` (Aquileia) Exe: R=` (Roma) Exe: RF` (Roma) Exe: SMAL` (Alexandria) Exe: SMAN` (Antioch) Exe: SMAN` (Antioch) Exe: SMH` (Heraclea) Exe: SMK` (Cyzicus) Only one star above wolf Exe: SMK` (Cyzicus) Exe: SMN` (Nicomedia) Exe: SMTS` (Thessalonica) Exe: TR` (Treveri) RIC 119 (VII, Heraclea) RIC 124 (VII, Heraclea) RIC 105 (VII, Cyzicus) RIC 119 (VII, Nicomedia) RIC 62 (VII, Constantinople) RIC 78 (VII, Constantinople) RIC 336 (VII, Aquileia) RIC 354 (VII, Rome) RIC 331 (VII, Rome) RIC 63 (VII, Alexandria) RIC 113 (VII, Antioch) RIC 91 (VII, Antioch) RIC 143 (VII, Heraclea) RIC 90 (VII, Cyzicus) RIC 205 (VII, Nicomedia) RIC 229 (VII, Thessalonica) RIC 542 (VII, Trier)

606

Coin Terms Used

AE Short for Aeratus, Latin for copper. AR Short for Argentum, Latin for silver. AU or AV Short for Aurum, Latin for gold. Billon Any alloy made up chiefly of base metals which contains a negligible amount of silver. Celator The craftsman in charge of creating the dies. Die The metal stamp used to impress a design onto a metal blank. Each coin is made using two dies for obverse and reverse. Die axis refers to the position of each die relative to each other when the coin was struck. Exergue Generally taken to mean the bottom part of the coin. This area is usually delineated and reserved for codes unrelated to the rest of the coins design or message. The exception are the Denarii and Aurei which sometimes use the exergue as extra spacing to accommodate large reverse legends. In most other cases the exergue is used for mint marks. These mintmarks often spill into the reverse fields as well. While not frequently used, the obverse sometimes will have some exergue writing. Fabric Refers to the texture of a coin. Two coins with identical designs can still have a very different look and feel about them. Factors like thickness, metal type, porosity, waviness and so on make up a unique signature for each coin that becomes associated with a particular culture and era. The study of a coins fabric is vitally important in determining a coins authenticity. Flan The metal blank used to make the coin. The terms use is synonymous with coin except that the former concerns itself only with the structural integrity, shape and makeup of the metal. Fourree A French word meaning stuffed. In numismatics it refers to an ancient counterfeit meant to deceive the recipient of the coin, not a modern collector. The counterfeiter would use a copper core and coat it in silver before striking it and attempting to pass it off as a good coin. The artistic merit of Roman fourrees is usually so good that they can only be identified when the silver coating has worn through enough to reveal its interior. Given this fact it is suspected that the counterfeiters could only have been mint officials with access to official dies and/or under covert approval of their superiors. Gold fourrees exist as well.

Mule (or hybrid) A term used to describe a coin whose obverse is mismatched with the reverse. For example, the Julia Domna Denarius pictured below is of a military type belonging to her husband Septimius Severus and which would never ordinarily be featured on a coin of an empress.

607

Mules are particularly abundant during transitional periods as one emperor is replaced with another and dies used for the former become mixed with the latter out of carelessness, haste or both. Obverse The front or heads of a coin. Orichalcum A naturally occurring brassy alloy mined on the Italian peninsula. It was used irregularly in the minting of Sestertii and Dupondii during the first and second centuries. Being of a naturally golden color, coins made of this alloy are often mistaken for gold by inexperienced collectors. Patina Copper-based alloys and to a lesser extent silver ones exposed to the environment become corroded over time. If this environment is not too severe only the coins surface becomes affected. This superficial layer is called a patina and novice collectors may often attempt to remove it in the failed hopes of restoring the coin to an as-new condition. A patina is usually desirable to maintain as it forms an effective barrier against further corrosion and is often considered quite attractive.

Reverse The tails side of the coin.

608
Style The unique artistic attributes of a coins design. The art of engraving is remarkably consistent for a particular age and becomes a mints signature as its various students learn to mimic one anothers renderings. While each mints output becomes consistent with itself it is often dissimilar to other mints coins. The farther apart any two mints are the more likely that the artistic style will be different even when the overall design of the artwork and epigraphy is the same.

Style also evolves over time within a mint and this, too, becomes a familiar signature. In conjunction with the study of fabric as mentioned above an understanding of style is essential in distinguishing authentic from fake.

609

Glossary
Biga A chariot pulled by two horses. Capricornus The classical Roman Capricorn; a mythological figure combining the fore part of a goat with a fish tail. Carpentum A funerary chariot; the predecessor of the modern hearse. Cornucopia A funnel-shaped container used to store fruits and vegetables, usually for decorative more so than practical purposes. Symbolically representative of plentiful resources. Cuirass The body armor of the soldier. The emperor, who rarely, if ever, personally fought in a war would have intricate decorations on his own cuirass. Labarum A vexillum with a Christian motif. Lictor The personal bodyguard to the emperor. The lictor would be outfitted with a fasces which was analogous in use to the billy club of todays police officers. Lituus One of the principal ceremonial instruments used by Roman priests during the course of their religious rites. Modius A bushel of grain. Parazonium The quintessentially Roman short sword which served as the main weapon of combat for infantrymen. Patera A sacred bowl used to pour various libations over the open fire of an altar. Pileus A small hat given to freed slaves to symbolize their freedom. In some countries, such as France, it continues to be used as a symbol of freedom. Quadriga A chariot pulled by four horses. Scepter A ceremonial rod of various lengths decorated with inlaid jewels and engravings. It is representative of ultimate authority. Simpulum - One of the principal ceremonial instruments used by Roman priests during the course of their religious rites. Standard A pole or staff adorned with large medallions, flags and other insignia denoting a particular military units origin and affiliation. Asides from pomp, the devices proved useful in battlefield coordination. Tessera A name sometimes used in referring to the chief attribute of Liberalitas. The device is a coin counter designed to give an accurate number of coins quickly and repeatedly during a donative procession but its actual name is unknown today. Vestal A nun who devoted her life serving in the temple of Vesta. Her person and chastity was considered absolutely inviolable. Vexillum A flag or sign carried on a pole used as a signaling device similar to a standard. Victimarius A priest whose function it was to ritually kill an animal meant as a sacrificial offering.

610

Rarity
Gauging the relative rarity of the various emperors, empresses and other personages for whom coins were made since the time of Augustus and through that of Anastasius over 500 years later is a formidable task. The extant coins of the Roman empire have come into the hands of collectors as well as private and public institutions either because they were handed down through the generations or because they have been recovered after being lost by their original owners (and then handed down through the generations!). Since on the one hand new coins are being found all the time and records of how many coins were minted back then were never kept no one knows for sure just how rare or common any single ruler, coin type or denomination is. Rarity is also not linearly progressive in the sense that a rulers length of reign is not necessarily a good yardstick for determining overall rarity. While theres obviously a general correlation with popular emperors with long reigns having many extant coins today that is only loosely indicative of how many coins were actually made during that period and, more importantly, how many have survived. For example, if one were to add up all the remaining coins left of the top fifty rulers, whose individual reigns would add up to decades, you would still have fewer coins than many single, short-lived emperors such as a Quintillus or Otho. There are several reasons for this including the fact that the more ephemeral the ruler the less likely that they had access to an active mint or the required resources to run it. Of those that did perhaps their particular period was so troubled that little currency was being manufactured. In other cases its just a matter of bad luck in that the particular ruler had most of his or her coins lost or melted down. And in yet others it is simply that the ruler came and went before the mints under his temporary control had any time to ramp up production. However, polling existing collections and using the available historical clues one can come to some conclusions that will be reasonably accurate. For the very rare issues or even coins attributed to rare emperors or empresses a single hoard can dramatically alter the rarity scales as understood to be at any given moment. For what its worth, a couple of tables are presented to provide a general idea of how rare or common coins are for each of the known emperors, empresses, caesars and others who had coins made in their names. A rarity of 1 means the coin is very common while a 9 is of extreme rarity. For the purposes of this scale then a rarity of 5 or higher is fairly rare and each successive number escalates this rarity exponentially. With the exception of the late Roman Solidus and its various fractions gold coins are to be considered uniformly rare. Few collectors of Roman imperial coins will be lucky enough to own an Aureus or any other preConstantinian gold denomination.

611 Table 1 Ruler Rarity (absolute)

Ruler
Julius Caesar, 49-44 BC Augustus (Octavian), 27 BC 14 AD Livia (wife of Augustus) Agrippa (friend of Augustus) Tiberius, 14-37 Nero Claudius Drusus (brother of Tiberius) Antonia (wife of Nero Claudius Drusus) Drusus (son of Tiberius) Germanicus (son of Nero Claudius Drusus) Agrippina (wife of Germanicus) Nero and Drusus (sons of Germanicus) Caligula, 37-41 Claudius, 41-54 Britannicus (son of Claudius) Nero, 54-68 Clodius Macer (68, usurper) Galba, 68-69 Otho, 69 Vitellius, 69 Vespasian, 69-79 Domitilla (wife of Vespasian) Titus Julia Titi (daughter of Titus) Domitian Domitia (wife of Domitian) Nerva, 96-98 Trajan, 98-117 Plotina (wife of Trajan) Marciana (sister of Trajan) Matidia (daughter of Marciana) Hadrian, 117-138 Sabina (wife of Hadrian)

AE
? 4 6 5 6 7 5 4 4 7 6 5 3 9 5 N/A 6 N/A 7 5 8 6 6 4 8 4 3 7 7 7 3 7 6 3 4 3 4 5 5 4 7 7 7 8 8 ? 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 6

AR
6 6 N/A N/A 6 8 8 N/A N/A N/A N/A 8 8 N/A 6 9 6 6 5 4 8 5 6 3 9 3 3 8 7 8 3 5 6 3 3 3 3 4 5 3 5 7 7 8 8 7 3 3 3 4 3 5 6 3

AU
9 8 N/A N/A 8 8 N/A ? ? N/A N/A 8 8 N/A 8 N/A 8 8 8 7 9 8 9 7 9 8 7 9 9 9 7 9 9 7 9 7 8 8 8 7 9 9 9 N/A N/A 9 7 7 7 9 7 9 9 7

Aelius, 136-138

Antoninus Pius Faustina Sr. (wife of Antoninus Pius) Marcus Aurelius, 161-180 Faustina Jr. (wife of Marcus Aurelius) Lucius Verus, 161-169 Lucilla (wife of Lucius Verus) Commodus, 177-192 Crispina (Wife of Commodus) Pertinax, 193 Didius Julianus, 193 Manlia Scantilla (wife of Didius Julianus) Didia Clara (daughter of Didius Julianus) Pescennius Niger, 193-194 Septimius Severus, 193-211 Julia Domna (wife of Septimius Severus) Caracalla, 198-217 Plautilla (wife of Caracalla) Geta, 209-212 Macrinus, 217-218 Diadumenian, 218 Elagabalus, 218-222

612

Ruler

AE

AR
4 5 7 4 6 3 6 4 4 7 6 7 7 6 6 2 8 3 3 3 8 9 9 3 3 4 6 3 4 6 9 9 3 7 4 N/A N/A 5 9 9 3 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

AU
9 9 N/A 9 4 9 7 N/A 9 8 N/A N/A 9 9 9 9 7 N/A 7 9 7 N/A N/A N/A 8 9 8 8 8 8 9 N/A 9 9 N/A 9 8 9 9 N/A N/A 9 9 9 9 N/A 9 N/A 9 9 8 N/A N/A 9 N/A 9 9 8 UNIQUE

Julia Paula (1st wife of Elagabalus) 7 Aquilia Severa (2nd wife of Elagabalus) 8 Annia Faustina (3rd wife of Elagabalus) 9 Julia Soaemias (mother of Elagabalus) 6 Julia Maesa (grandmother of Elagabalus & S. Alexander) Severus Alexander, 222-235 5 Orbiana (wife of Severus Alexander) 8 Julia Mamaea (mother of Severus Alexander) 6 Maximinus, 235-238 4 Paulina (wife of Maximinus) 8 Maximus, 235-238 5 Gordian I, 238 7 Gordian II, 23 7 Balbinus, 238 6 Pupienus, 238 6 Gordian III, 238-244 4 Tranquillina (wife of Gordian III) 7 Philip I, 244-249 4 Otacilia Severa (wife of Philip I) 4 Philip II, 247-249 4 Pacatian (c.248, usurper) N/A Jotapian (c.248, usurper) N/A Silbannacus (c.248, usurper) N/A Trajan Decius, 249-251 4 Herennia Etruscilla (wife of Trajan Decius) 4 Herennius Etruscus, 251 4 Hostilian, 251 7 Trebonianus Gallus, 251-253 4 Volusian, 251-253 4 Aemilian, 253 8 Cornelia Supera (wife of Aemilian) 9 Uranius Antoninus, (c.253, usurper) 9 (prov.) Valerian I, 253-260 4 Mariniana (wife of Valerian) 7 Valerian II, 256-258 5 Gallienus, 260-268 2 Salonina, (wife of Gallienus) 3 Saloninus, 260 5 Regalianus (c.260, usurper) N/A Dryantilla (wife of Regalianus) N/A Postumus (c.260-269, usurper) 4 Macrianus (c.260-261, usurper) 5 Quietus (c.260-261, usurper) 5 Claudius II, 268-270 2 Marius (c.269, usurper) 6 Laelianus (c.269, usurper) 7 Domitian II (c. 269, usurper) 9 Victorinus (c.269-271, usurper) 3 Quintillus, 270 4 Aurelian, 270-275 2 Vabalathus (c.271-272, usurper) 5 Zenobia (mother of Vabalathus) 9 Tetricus I (271-274, usurper) 3 Tetricus II (c.273-274, usurper) 3 Tacitus, 275-276 3 Florian, 276 4 Probus, 276-282 2 Saturninus (c.280, usurper) N/A

613

Ruler
Carus, 282-283 Numerian, 283-284 Carinus, 283-285 Magnia Urbica (wife of Carinus) Nigrinian (son of Carinus) Diocletian, 284-305 Julian (c.284, usurper) Maximianus, 286-305, 306-308 & 310 Carausius (287-293, usurper) Allectus (293-296, usurper) Domitius Domitianus (c.296-297, usurper) Constantius I, 305-306 Helena (1st wife of Constantius I) Theodora (2nd wife of Constantius I) Galerius, 305-311 Galeria Valeria (wife of Galerius) Severus II, 306-307 Maximinus II, 309-313 Maxentius, 306-312 Romulus (son of Maxentius) Constantine I, 307-337 Fausta (wife of Constantine I) Alexander (c.308-311, usurper) Licinius, 308-324 Constantia (wife of Licinius) Valerius Valens, c.316

AE
3 3 3 7 7 2 9 3 4 5 8 3 3 5 3 4 5 3 3 5 1 3 8 1 8 9 1 1 8 4 7 1 1 1 9 6 3 3 1 2 2 1 1 4 1 1 1 3 4 6 1 3 6 1 3 7

AR
N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 6 N/A 6 7 N/A N/A 6 N/A N/A 6 N/A 8 6 6 N/A 7 8 N/A 8 N/A N/A 8 N/A N/A 8 9 7 6 6 N/A 8 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 6 6 6 8 6 8 6 8 7 6 6 8

AU
9 9 9 9 N/A 7 9 7 9 9 N/A 9 9 N/A 9 9 9 8 8 N/A 7 9 N/A 8 N/A N/A 9 9 N/A 9 N/A 8 8 7 N/A N/A 9 N/A 8 7 7 6 6 9 6 6 6 9 7 N/A 6 8 9 6 6 7

Crispus, 316-324 Licinius Jr., 317-324

Martinian, 324

Delmatius, 335-337 Hanniballianus, 335-337

Constantine II, 337-340 Constans, 337-350 Constantius II, 337-361 Nepotian, 350 Vetranio (350, usurper) Magnentius, 350-353

Decentius, 351-353 Constantius Gallus, 351-354

Julian II, 360-363 Jovian, 363-364 Valentinian I, 364-375 Valens, 364-378 Procopius (365-366, usurper) Gratian, 367-383 Valentinian II, 375-392 Theodosius I, 379-395 Aelia Flaccilla (wife of Theodosius I) Magnus Maximus (383-388, usurper) Flavius Victor (387-388, usurper) 1[3] Arcadius, 383-407 Eudoxia (wife of Arcadius) Eugenius, 392-394 Honorius, 394-423 Theodosius II, 402-450 Eudocia (wife of Theodosius II)
1[3]

Emperors and their relatives from the Western court are highlighted in red

614

Ruler
Pulcheria (sister of Theodosius II) Constantine III (407-411, usurper) Constans II (c.409-411, usurper) Maximus (409-411, usurper) Priscus Attalus, 409-410 & 414-415 Jovinus (411-413, usurper) Sebastianus (c.412-413, usurper) Constantius III, 421 Johannes, 423-425 Valentinian III, 425-455 Licinia Eudoxia (wife of Val. III & P. Maximus) Galla Placidia (mother of Valentinian III) Honoria (sister of Valentinian III) Marcian, 450-457 Petronius Maximus, 455 Avitus, 455-456 Leo I, 457-474 Verina (wife of Leo I) Majorian, 457-461 Libius Severus, 461-465 Anthemius, 467-472 Euphemia (wife of Anthemius) Olybrius, 472 Glycerius, 473-474 Leo II, 473-474 Zeno, 474-491 Ariadne (wife of Zeno) Julius Nepos, 474-475 Romulus Augustus, 475-476 Basiliscus (and Marcus), 475-476 Zenonis (wife of Basiliscus) Leontius (484-488, usurper) Anastasius, 491-518 Summary: The full Roman Imperial set has:

AE
7 9 N/A 9 9 N/A N/A N/A 6 6 N/A 7 N/A 5 N/A 9 5 6 7 8 8 N/A N/A N/A 9 5 N/A 9 N/A 7 7 N/A 3

AR
8 8 9 9 8 9 9 9 8 8 N/A 8 N/A 8 N/A 9 8 N/A 8 8 8 9 N/A UNIQUE N/A 7 N/A 9 9 UNIQUE N/A N/A 7

AU
7 9 N/A N/A 9 N/A N/A 9 9 6 9 8 8 6 9 9 6 7 9 8 7 9 9 9 9 6 9 9 9 7 9 9 5

A total of 135 emperors of which 34 were usurpers not counting Clodius Macer who was not hailed as emperor nor Haniballianus whose title was King of Armenia. A total of 10 Caesars. A total of 51 women (40 wives, 4 mothers, 4 sisters, 2 daughters and 1 grandmother) 5 emperors sons and one friend (Agrippa) A grand total of 204 persons (joint issues counted as one)

Note: The coins of usurper-emperors, Amandus, Aelianus and Sponsianus, are discounted by most numismatic experts as fakes. Coins attributed to Proculus and Bonosus are highly controversial and in the authors opinion mis-identified coins of barbarous origin. Coins minted in the name of Marcus alone, brother of Basiliscus with whom he shared the imperial title briefly, are not known. Additionally, coins in the name of Victoria, mother of Victorinus, were supposedly minted in copper, silver and gold but none are known to have survived. The 18th century historian Gibbon asserts that an Egyptian merchant named Firmus rebelled during the reign of Aurelian and minted coins in his own name but these, too, have yet to appear. Some arguably Roman issues were excluded from this tally such as Vindex, Antinous, Odovacar, etc.
2[1]

Emperors in bold, Caesars in italics

615 Table 2 Ruler Rarity (relative)

In ascending order, approximately from most common to rarest:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. Constantine I Constantius II Constantine II Valens Valentinian I Constans Licinius I Probus Aurelian Valentinian II Gallienus Gratian Constantius Gallus Theodosius I Arcadius Honorius Licinius II Julian II Jovian Diocletian Crispus Claudius II Maximian Maximinus II Anastasius Tetricus I Tetricus II Salonina Tacitus Delmatius Gordian III Philip I Postumus Victorinus Philip II Galerius Helena Magnentius Decentius Vespasian Antoninus Pius Claudius Augustus Elagabalus Severus Alexander Septimius Severus Caracalla Carinus Numerian 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95. 96. 97. 98. 99. 100. 101. 102. 103. 104. 105. 106. Florian Hadrian Trajan Maxentius Galeria Valeria Trajan Decius Faustina Sr. Faustina Jr. Domitian Marcus Aurelius Geta Fausta Valerian I Magnus Maximus Agrippa Germanicus Constantius I Quintillus Commodus Marcian Nerva Julia Domna Herennia Etruscilla Otacilia Severa Carus Lucius Verus Severina Julia Maesa Julia Mamaea Nero Aelia Flaccilla Caligula Julia Soaemias Volusian Leo I Valerian II Trebonianus Gallus Drusus Sabina Maximinus Tiberius Crispina Lucilla Titus Plautilla Vabalathus Theodora Eudoxia Macrinus Antonia Saloninus Carausius Severus II Procopius Herennius Etruscus Clodius Albinus Theodosius II 107. 108. 109. 110. 111. 112. 113. 114. 115. 116. 117. 118. 119. 120. 121. 122. 123. 124. 125. 126. 127. 128. 129. 130. 131. 132. 133. 134. 135. 136. 137. 138. 139. 140. 141. 142. 143. 144. 145. 146. 147. 148. 149. 150. 151. 152. 153. 154. 155. 156. 157. 158. 159. 160. 161. 162. 163. Allectus Julia Paula Hostilian Aelius Aquilia Severa Vitellius Zeno Galba Maximus (Caesar) Quietus Macrianus Flavius Victor Diadumenian Johannes Otho Vetranio Magnia Urbica Aemilian Eugenius Hanniballianus Livia Balbinus Pupienus Agrippina II Orbiana Valentinian III Marius Pescennius Niger Mariniana Romulus Pertinax Agrippina I Basiliscus Julia Titi Julian Gordian I Gordian II Laelianus Didius Julianus Pulcheria Eudocia Verina Domitilla Nero Claudius Drusus Paulina Nigrinian Domitius Domitianus Constantine III Galla Placidia Libius Severus Didia Clara Manlia Scantilla Jovinus Anthemius Matidia Marciana Majorian

616
164. 165. 166. 167. 168. 169. 170. 171. 172. 173. 174. 175. 176. Plotina Domitia Honoria Julius Nepos Pacatian Martinian Alexander Cornelia Supera Licinia Eudoxia Romulus Augustus Zenobia Jotapian Maximus 177. 178. 179. 180. 181. 182. 183. 184. 185. 186. 187. 188. 189. Avitus Clodius Macer Nepotian Constantius III Britannicus Regalianus Priscus Attalus Uranius Antoninus Dryantilla Zenonis Tranquillina Annia Faustina Petronius Maximus 190. 191. 192. 193. 194. 195. 196. 197. 198. 199. 200. 201. 202. Glycerius Ariadne Constans II Sebastianus Leo II Olybrius Euphemia Leontius Valerius Valens Constantia Silbannacus Domitian II Saturninus

Table 3 Denomination Rarity

In ascending order, from most common to rarest, excluding multiples and fractions:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. AE4s (fourth and fifth century) AE3s and reduced Folles (fourth century) AE Antoninianus AE Folles (third and fourth century) AE2 (fourth century) AR Antoninianus AE As AR Denarius AE Dupondius AE Sestertius AE1 (fourth century) AR Siliqua 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. AE Quadrans AU Solidus AU Tremissis AE Semis AR Argenteus AU Aureus AR Cistophoric Tetradrachms AU Semissis AR Miliarense AU Scripulum AR Quinarius AU Quinarius

617

Index of Rulers
Aelia Flaccilla, 532 Aelius, 107 Aemilian, 281 Agrippa, 12 Agrippina I, 15 Agrippina II, 27 Alexander, 454 Allectus, 411 Anastasius, 597 Annia Faustina, 224 Anthemius, 561 Antonia, 19 Antoninus Pius, 109 Aquilia Severa, 223 Arcadius, 570 Ariadne, 592 Augustus, 1 Aurelian, 343 Avitus, 557 Balbinus, 243 Basiliscus, 593 Britannicus, 26 Caligula, 20 Caracalla, 190 Carausius, 405 Carinus, 376 Carus, 372 Claudius I, 23 Claudius II, 334 Clodius Albinus, 169 Clodius Macer, 40 Commodus, 148 Constans I, 485 Constans II, 542 Constantia, 461 Constantine I, 437 Constantine II, 477 Constantine III, 541 Constantius Gallus, 504 Constantius I, 415 Constantius II, 490 Constantius III, 547 Cornelia Supera, 283 Crispina, 158 Crispus, 470 Decentius, 500 Delmatius, 483 Diadumenian, 211 Didia Clara, 165 Didius Julianus, 162 Diocletian, 388 Domitia, 70 Domitian, 62 Domitian II, 324 Domitilla, 55 Domitius Domitianus, 414 Drusus, 18 Dryantilla, 311 Elagabalus, 213 Eudocia, 580 Eudoxia, 574 Eugenius, 536 Euphemia, 563 Fausta, 452 Faustina I, 121 Faustina II, 136 Flavius Victor, 535 Florian, 358 Galba, 35 Galeria Valeria, 427 Galerius, 422 Galla Placidia, 548 Gallienus, 294 Germanicus, 14 Geta, 204 Glycerius, 565 Gordian I, 240 Gordian II, 242 Gordian III, 247 Gratian, 522 Hadrian, 89 Hanniballianus, 484 Helena, 451 Herennia Etruscilla, 269 Herennius Etruscus, 271 Honoria, 555 Honorius, 538 Hostilian, 273 Johannes, 549 Jotapian, 265 Jovian, 510 Jovinus, 545 Julia Domna, 185 Julia Maesa, 218 Julia Mamaea, 232 Julia Paula, 221 Julia Soaemias, 220 Julia Titi, 71 Julian I, 387 Julian II, 507 Julius Nepos, 566 Laelianus, 319 Leo I, 584 Leo II, 589 Leontius, 596 Libius Severus, 559 Licinia Eudoxia, 554 Licinius I, 456 Licinius II, 467 Livia, 11 Lucilla, 145 Lucius Verus, 141 Macrianus, 332 Macrinus, 208 Magnentius, 498 Magnia Urbica, 380 Magnus Maximus, 533 Majorian, 558 Manlia Scantilla, 164 Marcian, 582 Marciana, 87 Marcus Aurelius, 126 Mariniana, 290 Marius, 320 Martinian, 476 Matidia, 88 Maxentius, 431 Maximian, 396 Maximinus I, 236 Maximinus II, 462 Maximus, 543 Maximus (Caesar), 239 Nepotian, 502 Nero, 29 Nero Claudius Drusus, 13 Nerva, 73 Nigrinian, 382 Numerian, 383 Olybrius, 564 Orbiana, 234 Otacilia Severa, 259 Otho, 41 Pacatian, 264 Paulina, 238 Pertinax, 160 Pescennius Niger, 166 Petronius Maximus, 556 Philip I, 254 Philip II, 261 Plautilla, 202 Plotina, 86 Postumus, 312 Priscus Attalus, 544 Probus, 361 Procopius, 520 Pulcheria, 575 Pupienus, 245 Quietus, 330 Quintillus, 340 Regalianus, 310 Romulus, 436 Romulus Augustus, 568 Sabina, 104 Salonina, 305 Saloninus, 308 Saturninus, 371 Sebastianus, 546 Septimius Severus, 172 Severina, 350 Severus Alexander, 225 Severus II, 428 Silbannacus, 284 Tacitus, 354 Tetricus I, 325 Tetricus II, 328 Theodora, 421 Theodosius I, 528 Theodosius II, 577 Tiberius, 16 Titus, 56 Trajan, 76 Trajan Decius, 266 Tranquillina, 253 Trebonianus Gallus, 275 Uranius Antoninus, 285 Vabalathus, 352 Valens, 516 Valentinian I, 512 Valentinian II, 525 Valentinian III, 551 Valerian I, 286 Valerian II, 292 Valerius Valens, 475 Verina, 587 Vespasian, 46 Vetranio, 503 Victorinus, 321 Vitellius, 43 Volusian, 278 Zeno, 589 Zenobia, 351 Zenonis, 596

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Photography Credits
Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Dirty Old Coins, LLC Ancient Auction House Numismatica Ars Classica Numismatik Lanz Tkalec AG Gorny & Mosch Ancient Imports Atlantis, Ltd. Harlan J. Berk, Ltd. Leu Numismatik Mnzen und Medaillen BeastCoins John C. Lavender Trustees of the British Museum http://www.cngcoins.com http://www.dirtyoldcoins.com http://www.ancientauctionhouse.com http://www.arsclassicacoins.com http://www.numislanz.de http://www.coinstkalec.ch http://www.gmcoinart.de http://www.vcoins.com/ancientimports http://www.atlantis-ltd.net http://www.harlanjberk.com http://www.leu-numismatik.com http://www.muenzenundmedaillendeutschland.de http://www.beastcoins.com http://www.vcoins.com/jclavender http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk

Additional Web Resources

ERIC Homepage Research Research Research Research Biographical Educational Educational Major Collections/British Museum Major Collections/Vienna Major Collections/Smithsonian Major Collections/Ashmolean Ancient Coins Magazine http://www.dirtyoldbooks.com http://www.dirtyoldcoins.com http://www.wildwinds.com http://www.coinarchives.com/a http://www.beastcoins.com http://www.roman-emperors.org http://dougsmith.ancients.info http://www.numismatics.org/publications/romangeneral http://www.british-museum.ac.uk/cm/cmhome.html http://www.khm.at/homeE3.html http://americanhistory.si.edu/csr/cadnnc.htm http://www.ashmol.ox.ac.uk/ash/departments/coin-room http://www.celator.com/cws/index.html

Errata and ancillary notes will be published electronically at http://www.dirtyoldbooks.com

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