OK, lets try this again. Another coin I purchased recently is this Gratian. Now this coin I purchased because the reverse seemed to be in such great condition. I wasn't disappointed in general, but wish the reverse had been bettered centered in order to show Victory's head. GRATIAN AE2 OBVERSE: DN GRATIA-NVS PF AVG, pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right REVERSE: REPARATIO REIPVB, Gratian standing front, head left, holding Victory on globe and raising kneeling female on left. Mintmark SCON Struck at Arles 379-83 AD 5.7 grs. 23 mm RIC IX 20a, S Just like the previous thread, post anything you feel appropriate
That's a very nice coin indeed. Gratian comes at the tail end of the Constantinian Dynasty, and minting seems to have taken a turn for the worse, at least with the bronzes. You've got to really hunt for high-quality coins among the Theodosians and Valentinians. That's definitely a coin I would have snatched up if I had come across it. I have one Gratian, which came in a larger lot. It's pretty rough but for some reason it appeals to me and I haven't unloaded it...
I don't think they're all bad. The general style can take some time to get used to but well-preserved and detailed ones can look pretty impressive. The busts had changed from being less realistic and more uniform, and the reverses not as fanciful or varied, but the die engravers were still skilled enough to add plenty of detail into the coinage. If you want bad quality coinage, look at some Gallienus and Gallic coins Anyways here's my Gratian Reparatio Reipvb:
No, they're not anywhere near as rough as Gallienus, but the superabundance of sharp coins that you find among the Constantines just isn't there. You guys have impressive ones because you've looked for them, and I just haven't gone down that road so much.
I have the REPARATIO REIPVB type on a coin of Valentinian II, but I don't care for it much - someday I'll buckle down and take this era more seriously...
i thought i had a gratian...but i don't. i was thinking of jovian i maybe. i also don't have this reverse type kneeling person. need to fill get some LRB! nice gratin thought bing..i'd take that one for sure.
Thanks. I don't usually dabble to much in this era of coinage, but when I see something nice at a good price I try to snatch it up. Here are a few of my other Gratians:
