Constantius II and Vetranio

In A.D. 350, Constans was murdered by troops loyal to Magnentius, who was promptly proclaimed Emperor. Magnentius then had his brother, Decentius, declared Caesar.

Meanwhile, Constantius II was in the East, battling the king of Persia. Constantia, the daughter of Constantine the Great and sister of Constantius II, feared for her life. She approached Vetranio, an aging but popular, general from Moesia, and encouraged him to proclaim himself Emperor in an effort to counter the danger posed to her and her family by Magnentius. Vetranio did just that, and minted coins in both his own name and in the name of Constantius II in Siscia and Thessalonica.

Constantia's safety was soon in jeopardy again, as Magnentius began making overtures to Vetranio, seeking an alliance against Constantius II, to which Vetranio soon agreed. About this time, however, Constantius II returned from the East and confronted Vetranio, who promptly capitulated, prostrating himself before Constantius II and begging his forgiveness. Forgiveness was granted, and Vetranio was allowed to retire and live the last few years of his life in relative peace.

This little intrigue, grossly abbreviated above, makes a fun little collecting subset. Some of my examples are in pretty rough shape, but here they are:

Two coins in the name of Constantius II minted by Vetranio:

1) AE2 of Constantius II, minted by Vetranio
Siscia mint, A.D. 350
Ric 284
Obv: D N CONSTAN-TIVS P F AVG - A behind bust; star in front.
Rev: CONCORDIA MILITVM - Emperor, standing, facing left, holding a laborum in each hand; star above. A in left field.
[dot]ΔSIS[dot] in exergue.


2) AE3 of Constantius II, also minted by Vetranio
Siscia mint, A.D. 350
Obv: D N CONSTAN-TIVS P F AVG
Rev: HOC SIG-NO VICTOR ERIS - Emperor, standing, facing left, holding labarum (standard with Chi-Rho) being crowned by Victory
[dot]ΓSIS[star] in exergue; A in left field
RIC 291
21mm, 3.8g.

In the name of Vetranio:

AE3
Thessalonica mint, A.D. 350
Obv: D N VETRAN-IO P F AVG
Rev: VIRTVS EXERCITVM - Emperor, standing, facing left, holding labarum (standard with Chi-Rho) and resting hand on shield
TESA in exergue
RIC 138
18x20mm, 1.4g

The usurper, Magnentius:

AE2
Aquileia mint, A.D. 351-353
Obv: D N MAGNEN-TIVS P F AVG
Rev: VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAES - Two Victories, facing each other, holding shield inscribed VOT/V/MVLT/X in four lines
AQP in exergue
RIC 167
23x21mm, 4.0g.

His brother and Caesar, Decentius:

AE2
Arles mint, A.D. 351-353
Obv: D N DECENTI-VS CAESAR
Rev: VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAES - Two Victories, facing each other, holding shield inscribed VOT/V/MVLT/X in four lines
FSAR in exergue
RIC 168
21-24mm, 4.5g

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Those are some nice bronzes, congrats.

 

I have a few Constantius II coins from Siscia. Here are the two most photogenic. Both GLOR-IA EXERC-ITVS Types.

As Caesar:


As Augustus:

 

Here's my Vetranio:

 

Still need a Vetranio and new photos.

Constantius II
350 AD
AE Centenionalis
Mint: Siscia
Obvs: DN CONSTANTIVS PF AVG. Diademed, draped, and cuirass bust right. * behind, H before
Revs: HOC SIGNO VICTOR ERIS, H to left. Emperor standing left with labarum inscribed with Chi-Rho, being crowned by Victory.
20x21mm, 5.04g
RIC VIII 291


Constantius II
350 AD
AE Centenionalis
Mint: Siscia
Obvs: DN CONSTANTIVS PF AVG. Diademed, draped, and cuirass bust right. A left, * right
Revs: CONCORDIA MILITVM, Emperor with two Chi Rho banners. A left, ЄSIS
21x23mm, 4.1g
RIC VIII 289

 

I don't have anything from Vertranio, but here is everyone else mentioned.

A favorite Constans...



My Favorite Magnentius (I only have 2)...



I have a ton of Constantius II coins, but here is a fav...

 

You have an example with the "awkwardly engraved Alexandrian armour"

Note the top of the cuirass under the chin. On right facing busts, the curved part rests against the back of the neck.

 

Interesting write up and some great coins gsimonel, I have one of Constantius II in his early days as Caesar.
Constantius II, AE3, 329,Arles/ Constantina, Officina 1
FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C
Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust left
VIRTVS-CAESS
Campgate with six rows, four turrets, open doors with three panels, each with two pellets, star above, top row arches and pellets in blocks, bottom rows empty blocks
T | F across fields
PCONST in exergue
20mm x 3.5g
RIC VII, 335 (R4)

 

Vetranio:

 

It doesn't look as awkward to me as backward. It really makes me think that there were people at the mint dedicated to doing the armor whom then handed it off to someone doing the portrait (or vice versa). And the individual doing the portrait didn't pay attention, putting the head facing opposite of the direction the armor is facing. Great "error" coin! Thanks for sharing it.

 

No Vetranio and only few presentable coins from this period in my collection, since it's not really my area. Yet, I still see a photo-story opportunity here! (Those of you who were kids in the 90s will remember photo-stories.)

Here is Constans (RIC VIII, Siscia 185,G), thinking no evil and hanging out with the Victories,...



...when Magnentius (RIC VIII, Trier 271,S) backstabs him and has him murdered on a hunting trip to France in 350 AD.



Constantius II (RIC VIII, Sirmium 48), understandably angry after his brother's death, goes to war against Magnentius. He defeats him at Mursa in 351 AD and at the Mons Seleucus in 353 AD. Magnentius, after having lost everything, commits suicide – 'happy times are restored'.

 

Yes, it is backwards...I only used the word "awkward" as an alliteration.

a quote about this from a few years ago--

"The first coin below has an unusual cuirass. Constantius II is actually wearing it backwards. The curving part at the front of his neck should actually be at the back of his neck. I have seen a few other examples like this, but none to this extent. It seems that the engraver did not really understand what he was engraving...perhaps merely copying a right facing bust."

 

CONSTANTIUS II


RI Poemenius in name of Constantius II summer 353 Trier XP RIC VIII Trier 332 RARE


RI Constantius II 337-361 CE AE 2 Soldier spearing downed horseman


VETRANIO


RI Vetranio 350 CE AE3 17mm Siscia mint Emp stdng hldg Standard and Spear
Ex: @seth77

 

MAGNENTIUS


RI Magnentius 351-352 CE AE 1 CHI RHO


CONSTANS


RI Constans 337-350 Æ Follis 22mm 3.9g Heraclea CE 348-351 holding globe - FEL TEMP REPARATIO soldier spear leads figure from hut

 

There is a dangerous fake Vetranio making the rounds. I bought one which I later returned but in the meantime I sold my previous Vetranio so now I have none.

 

The above coin is the authentic one you sold or the dangerous fake? I’m guessing the sold coin... Do you have a photo of the fake?

 

it's a fake.

below are some more

 

Ha, I guessed wrong. Yep, it passed the eye test for me!

 

I have no Vetranio, but here is my latest Constantius. Sort of inspired by @randygeki's shields.

 

Ah! So it's Constantius II's fault, not the engravers!

Great coins, everyone. Thanks for the heads-up about the fake. I wasn't aware of it.