JULIAN II Siliqua

When Frank Robinson's auction closed, I thought I was the winning bid on two coins. However, when the package arrived, there was only one coin with an invoice for just the one coin. I assumed I must have been wrong, and I was happy with my one win. About a week ago, I got a message from Frank indicating he mistakenly sent the second coin to another bidder. It was returned to Frank who promptly sent it off to me. I received it in the mail Saturday.

Even though I won this coin for $10 below my highest bid, I'm not sure why I bid on it in the first place. My collection efforts have been centered on early Imperial, Roman Republic and Greek. I will say though that after researching this coin, it may not be rare, but it is scarce because of the obverse design.


JULIAN II
Siliqua
OBVERSE: FL CL IVLIA-NVS PP AVG, rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: VOTIS V MVLTIS X in four lines within wreath. Mintmark SLVG
Struck at Lyons 360-363 A.D
1.7g, 16mm
RIC VIII Lyons 227 var (bust type); RSC 163b var (ditto); Sear 4071 var (ditto)

Thank you for taking a look, and, like always, post your Siliqua or anything you find remotely related

 

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The only noticeable thing about the coin, is SLUG written on it !
It warned you !!!

Just kidding, a Lugdunum siliqua is always something you want.
Nice capture

Q

 

Good catch @Bing. Also fortunate that the coin was returned by an honest bidder.

 

Seems like Julian often doesn't have the little things on the back of his neck. This portrait looks more like Constantius

 

And I didn't even notice.

 

Very nice. Even if you don't remember why you bid on it!

Here's my own Julian II siliqua, minted in Arles.

Julian II (nephew of Constantine I), AR Siliqua. 360-361 A.D, Arles [Constantina/Arelatum] Mint, 1st Officina. Obv. Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right, DN IVLIAN-VS P F AVG / Rev. VOTIS/V/MVLTIS/X in four lines within wreath. In exergue: PCON [PRIMA CONSTANTINA = First officina in Arles]. RIC VIII Arles 295, RSC V 16, Sear RCV V 19132. 17 mm., 2.2 g.



It has essentially the same reverse as yours. The biggest difference on the obverse is that his diadem on mine is made of pearls -- and he has what looks like a small halo floating directly above his head! Does anyone have any idea what that's supposed to be?

 

Are you sure that it is a rosette diadem instead of the regular pearl diadem? This is how a rosette diadem of the time looked at Lyon:



But regardless, your coin is of historic interest -- it was very likely minted to finance Julian's campaign towards East in what everyone presumed would have been a very destructive war between his Western legions and Constantius II's army that was on the move from the Eastern front, sometime from the spring of 361 until the death of Constantius in November that same year.

 

All great Late Roman silvers!
Congrats @Bing for the loss/win

 

The ornament in the middle of the pearl diadem.

 

Nice one!

I've been trying for a while to get a beardless, Western-mint siliqua of Julian II minted while he was a usurper against his cousin - they are fairly available on the market right now, but sadly don't come cheap. Unless I'm mistaken, his are the only coins minted by a usurper who would later be emperor - all the rest either waited to secure their position before they began minting, or else died before unanimous recognition.

I do however have a siliqua as Caesar - he was functionally the last to hold that title, too

 

Nice surprise not-a-surprise, Bing! I just received my two wins from that FSR auction yesterday, but haven't had a chance to photograph them yet.

Here's my old beat up Julian as Caesar siliqua.


JULIAN II, as Caesar
AR Siliqua. 1.89g, 17.3mm. Arelate mint, AD 360-361. RIC 264. O: DN IVLIANVS NOB CAES, bareheaded, draped and curaissed bust right. R: VOTIS V MVLTIS X in four lines within wreath; TCON in exergue.

 

Sorry @Bing ...couldn't resist



**I think I won CoinTalk

 

That's all ya gotta do!!!

 

James, Congratulations on your slug (siliqua) of the "beardless" Julian II ! Are you going to reveal what you paid for it ? I bought a couple of slugs (siliqua) from the East Harptree Hoard last year. My coins are no beauties either , but for $60.00 each I couldn't resist. Pictured below is one of them.

 

I also have a Valens siliqua from the East Harptree hoard, minted in Rome:

Valens, AR Siliqua, 364-367, Rome Mint. Obv. DN VALEN-S PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right / Rev. VOT- V- MV•LT- X in four lines within wreath. In exergue: Mintmark RB. RIC IX Rome 10c (p. 118), RSC V 91(h) (ill.), Sear RCV V 19687. 17 mm., 2.00 g. From 1887 East Harptree hoard.



It's the only ancient coin I have that I know to be from a specific hoard.

 

I don't mind since FSR reveals prices realized anyway. I paid $55 shipped. That's not a bad price except when you think it's not a coin I would normally collect. Don't ask what I was thinking 'cause I have no idea.

 

You did great for that price !

 

If it's the rosette diadem it's a good price congrats.

 

I believe it is a rosette diadem. Here is a closer look. Let me know what you think

 

It's certainly possible but I'm not 100% sure. Thing is I didn't see other examples of this issue with rosette diadem to make a comparison, just the earlier phase from 360.