Featured The VALERIUS VALENS chronicles

Please explain why the coins of 200-210 would have circulated more than the earlier ones issued when the civil and Parthian wars were hot and heavy.

 

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Wonderful write up and response. I bought a copy of Zosimus's book from Amazon some months ago. His accuracy about many things is less than great. I have to admit that I like reading the history of the rise of the empire better than the fall!

 

Interesting and curious thread. I'll be looking for coins reading Val Valens. In the meantime, here are 2 coins of Valens with apparently a little difference in the Emperor's face.

 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: if a Valerius Valens is missing in your collection, here's one for sale, starting price at 5 euros......
You can also admire the nice "swan" on the reverse (see the end of the OP above). Please do not thank me for this potential deal of a lifetime, I'm that kind of guy who likes to help other collectors...



https://www.biddr.com/auctions/katz/browse?a=1814&l=1964362

 

That Katz auction is loaded with numerous fakes (see lots 257ff) and they, and biddr, have been informed by several of us. I have been told that Katz has agreed to have an expert look at it and then, within a few days, they will withdraw all the forgeries. I should think they would have had an expert on staff or an outside expert look before listing the coins. That they didn't do that tells us something about the Katz firm.

 

Fascinating and informative read about Val Valens and subsequent rarity of his coinage, with some good tips to spot the real deal one day. Thank you.
Unsurprisingly I do not own a Val Valens, however I will look upon these Licinius I ones I own with much more respect for what was happening at that time.


LICINIUS AD 311 AE22mm 6.1g Cyzicus mint
OBV: VAL LICINNIANVS LICINNIVS P F AVG: Head of Licinius, laureate, right
REV: IOVI CONSER-VATORI AVGG Jupiter, nude, chlamys draped across left shoulder, standing left, holding Victory on globe in right hand and sceptre in left hand; to left, eagle with wreath. MK(V)B in ex

LICINIUS (AD 312) AE Follis Thessalonica 51 RIC VI 24mm 3.40g
OBV: IMP LIC LICINIUS PF AVG Head of LICINIUS Laur rt
REV: IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG NN. Jupiter standing left, holding Victory on a globe and a sceptre; at feet left an Eagle with a wreath in its beak. SMTS in ex (small r to right of Jupiter)

 

I lol'd :'-D

 

I remember seeing a die match of one of those on eBay when I first started collecting. As I wasn't very experienced, I assumed it was genuine, and got quite excited about having 'spotted' a rarity (what it was supposed to be was mentioned in the description). Luckily it sold for more than I was prepared to pay lol