One of my "weaknesses" in coins is above-average condition Sec Reip Victory left late Roman coins. Can't have enough of them! Spotted this Gratian from Constantia (Arles) for what was imo a good price, and so I snagged it. I didn't have this mint for this type or for Gratian either. Gratian (Western Roman emperor, 375-383 AD) AE3 Obv: DN GRATIA-NVS PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped bust right Rev: SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm branch SCON in ex, Constantia (Arles) mint Ref: RIC IX 19b, rated Scarce Gratian became junior Augustus in 367 AD under Valentinian I, his father, then became full Augustus upon Valentinian's death in 375 AD. He campaigned extensively in those years against barbarian forces, and, had his uncle the Eastern emperor Valens waited for Gratian and his army, would have probably been the key to winning the Battle of Adrianople for the Romans. As with many leaders through history, Gratian would fall to vice and indifference. It would be a general named Magnus Maximus (my favorite usurper btw) that would revolt against the emperor, and in the end, have him killed in 383 AD.
That's an excellent Gratian, particularly the portrait! I was recently looking for an upgrade of mine, and discovered that most of the available pieces that suited my budget were quite worn. EF details started bringing higher and higher price tags, so your coin is a steal if you got it on the cheap. I'm not sure if the Gratians weren't minted as well as other LRB's, or if they saw a lot of circulation, but trying to find strong coins isn't easy. I decided mine wasn't so bad after all...
Mine was $8 total and not ebay, a favorite dealer of mine. Gratian (367- 383 A.D.) Æ 21 O: D N GRATIA-NVS P F AVG, Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: VIRTVS ROMANORVM, Roma seated facing, head left, holding globe and spear,Θ and Φ at sides, anta in ex. theta and phi officina Antioch Mint 2.5g
Cool coins guys and glad to see there's some interest in my coin, I actually like some of the LRB portraits. They are not all the same really: they come in skinny, fat, bug-eyed, etc. For any LRB for me it seems to be hard to find strong ones. That's the irony; they may be common, but very nice ones not so much.
