Hi everyone, Just got my first ancient coin with the Chi-Ro symbol. And an interesting Emperor too. Seems Valentinian I was a rough and ready kind of guy. Interesting time period and History i think. This coin looks a little over cleaned for my preferences, but i will leave it on my desk to tone it down some. VALENTINIAN I 367-375 AD Æ3 Roman Bronze NummusObverse legend: DN VALENTINIANVS PF AVG (pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right)Reverse legend: GLORIA ROMANORVM (Emperor walking right with head turned back while grasping bound captive and holding a banner with "Chi-Rho", R right field) RIC IX 14a, type x - Siscia Mintmark(●BSISC) (Sisak, Croatia)(b43) Name commonly known as: Valentinian I Latin Roman Name: Flavius Valentinianus Reigned as Roman Emperor / Caesar: 26 February - 28 March 364 alone and 26 March 364 - 17 November 375 as emperor of the west, with his brother emperor in the east Dynasty / Historical Period: The Valentinian dynasty (364 - 394) derives its name from the first of the dynasty's Emperors - Valentinian I. Orthodox Christianity became the officially tolerated variant of the faith and the Empire became irrevocably split into two halves. Place and Date of Birth: Born 321 at Cibalae, Pannonia Name of previous Emperor: His predecessor or the Emperor before Valentinian I was Jovian Family connections / Genealogy *** Name of Father: Gratian the Elder *** Name of Mother: Unknown *** Married: *** *** Marina Severa *** *** Justina Children: Gratian by Marina Severa and Valentinian II, Galla and Justa by Justina Place and Date of Death: Died 17 November 375 at Brigetio on the Danube Jovian died on 17 February 364, en route to Constantinople, after a reign of only eight months. There are many rumours that Jovian was murdered by being smothered to death or poisoned with mushrooms. When Jovian died, the army chose another soldier named Valentinian, a stout, brave, rough man, with little education but a good Christian. As soon as he reached Constantinople, he divided the empire with his brother Valens, whom he left to rule the East, while he himself went to govern the West, chiefly from Milan, for the Emperors were not fond of living at Rome, partly because the remains of the Senate interfered with their full grandeur, and partly because there were old customs that were inconvenient to a Christian Emperor. He was in general just and honest in his dealings, but when he was angry he could be cruel, and it is said he had two bears to whom criminals were thrown. His brother Valens was a weaker and less able man. Ambrose, the Archbishop of Milan, taught Gratian, Valentinian's eldest son. Gratian was a good and promising youth. Valentinian's second wife was named Justina; and when he died, as it is said, from breaking a blood-vessel in a fit of rage, in 375, the Western Empire was shared between her little son Valentinian and Gratian. Feel free to share anything related, would love to see them.
I think so too. I wrote this page on it: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ricix/ and selected my username from it. Here is a scare type of Valentinian, his first: Valentinian 20mm. 12:00. 2.76 grams. VOT V MVLT X Sirmium 8. Only for Valentinian, so it must be dated before the the news of the elevation of Valens reached the mint. RIC p. 156. Valentinian became emperor 26 Feb. 364 and elevated Valens 28 March 364, only about a month later.
Interesting writeup Valentinian I, Siliqua Constantinople mint, 4th officina DN VALENTINI - ANVS P F AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right VOT V in a laurel wreath, CP.delta at exergue 1.57 gr Ref : RC # 4097v, RIC IX # 13a, Cohen # 69 Valentinian I, AE1 Nicomedia mint, 1st officina D N VALENTINI ANVS P F AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right RESTITVTOR REIPUBLICAE, Valentinian standing left, head right, holding standard and vicotry on globe. SMNA at exergue 9.66 gr Ref : Cohen # 30, RIC #7a (R2), LRBC #2321 Q
Valentinian I AE3, 364-367 AD, 2.2g, 19mm OBV: D N VALENTINI-ANVS P F AVG, Diademed draped & cuirassed bust right. REV: SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE, Victory advancing left, holding wreath & palm, large variety of symbol and letter combinations in left and right fields. DSISC in ex. REF: Cohen 37, RIC IX Siscia 7A
Nice write-up @old49er , and nice VI! I have a small supply of @Valentinian (Warren) on hand... RI Valentinian I AE3 364-375 CE Emp dragging captive XP std RI Valentinian I 364-375 CE AE4 Nummus Victory
So many times in the history of Rome during its decline did it produce a capable, efficient ruler, only to see that ruler's reign cut short by jealous colleagues, disgruntled troops, or in Valentinian's case, an infuriating, insolent barbarian . Had the likes of an Aurelian or Probus, a Valentinian or a Julian had a chance at a full reign, the Western Empire, like that of the East, just might have survived centuries more and given the chaos and loss of the Dark Ages, that would have been a good thing.
