Not really, but from its condition it looks like I could have (Edit: supposed to say "in" not "is" in the title ) I've showed this one before but recently got around to reshooting new photos of it. This AE3 of Roman emperor Valentinian I is easily one of my best late Romans, condition-wise. Some people may describe this type and emperor "as common as dirt", and they are very easy to inexpensively find, but it gets more difficult (but not impossible) to find one of these in this great of a shape. I wouldn't be surprised if it got lost not long after it left the mint. Its a nice dark brown color all around (except for the light layer of sand at the base of teh bust/mintmark area), but I had to sacrifice some of it in the photo to shoot it at an angle and bring out the details. Interesting tidbit: the goddess Victory (Victoria, shown on my coin's reverse) is said to have been the inspiration for the look of Christian angels. From Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentinian_I ): Obv: D N VALENTINI-ANVS P F AVG, pear-diademed, draped bust right Rev: SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm branch, field marks to left and right Mint: Siscia (mintmark: Gamma SISC [not sure of the last letter], struck 364-375 AD) Ref: RIC 15a And here is a bronze statue of (possibly) Valentinian I, in Italy:
Wow, that's fleur de coin for the type. I've never seen one as good as this. The Valentinians and Theodosians churned out buckets-full of ratty little bronzes. I think yours would definitely count as a condition rarity. Mine is ok...
Thanks Bing and John! Yours is very nice IMO, better than ok and better than most I've seen. Easily the type of coin you could carry around as a conversation starter and not have to worry too much if it gets lost.
Can't help showing off some more, but I also have a Valens in almost similar condition as my Valentinian (btw these two emperors were brothers): (I probably will reshoot this one as well)
Another excellent coin! I've only recently begun studying the Valentinian Dynasty and its coinage. Here's a scarce coin I posted some time ago, limited to a very brief mintage at Sirmium. RIC says, “Sirmium is the only mint at which Valentinian struck the large AE3 of Julian’s standard with rev. Vot v mult x. Like the accompanying siliqua Votis v multis x it has been found with obverse of Valentinian only, and these coins must be dated to a time when news of Valens’ elevation had not yet reached the mint.” (RIC IX, p. 156) The majority of reverse types during the reign of Valentinian I, and the Valentinian dynasty in general, feature military themes. The predominant types present Victory, or the emperor dragging a captive, or holding Victory, or some variation of the above. Again, RIC offers a pointed analysis... “At first sight, it might seem that the coinage of our period can offer little help to the historian. It is no longer, as in earlier days, a continuous record of important events at home or in the field, touching every side of Roman life, or of the emperor’s manifold activities for the well-being of his subjects. Instead, the traditional glory of Roman arms is recalled on the coinage with monotonous persistence. Yet this very monotony reflects the change that had come over the empire in its passage from ‘Principate’ to ‘Oriental Monarchy’. The common man, crushed under an overwhelming burden of taxation and cramped in every impulse to better his condition by the harsh system of hereditary servitude, had little to live for except the mere preservation of life itself. Ammianus tells us that when Valentinian came to the throne the empire was threatened on every frontier by inroads of savage enemies. We find the coinage adapted to the times in its almost unvarying message that in the valour of its army the State had a sure defense. The bronze was the chief medium employed for this message. “ (RIC IX, p. xv) This coin stands apart from the common military types on account of its commemoration of Vota Publica - one of those pieces that looks quite ordinary by itself, but presents a very different aspect in the context of the more common types.
Nice one. They can be found in good shape with time. Mine is the second ancient I ever bought. Still have it though I dont love it like my others. I just dont find the need to replace it for something better like Johns. Valentinian I (364 - 375 A.D.) Æ3 O: D N VALENTINI-ANVS P F AVG, Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: GLORIA RO-MANORVM, Emperor dragging captive with right, labarum (chi-rho standard) in left, M left, * / P right, BSISC in ex. Siscia mint 2.935g 17.7mm RIC IX 14a, xvii
I've got the emperor-dragging-captive type as well. Strange patina on this coin, though, and tough to image. I've got to try taking some more pics of this coin with different lighting schemes...
Awesome coin! I don't have a Valentinian myself because the 'right one' just hasn't come along yet. Some seriously awesome details on this coin
If bigger is better, an AE1 is best. You can find one nicer than mine. After this issue we have a few AE2 coins but Valentinian ended the Roman large bronze series.
i like to seem some nice LRB. wasn't that a song? "you down with LRB? yeah you know me." something like that. here's one of my favorite LRB victory reverse coins, valens. this was a rare uncleaned coin win for me...before and after.
Wow Chris, nice cleaning job! I would NOT have bought that uncleaned coin. I guess you've got to have an eye for them.
that was pure luck that it turned out to be a nice coin, i had no clue. that one was, well maybe not 1 in a million, but 1 in 100 for sure.
Wow, sweet coin, Jango ... and others ... yah, I don't have an example to post ............... (*sigh*)
