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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Ocatarinetabellatchitchix, post: 8231430, member: 99554&quot;]<b>The (short) history</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Valentinian became emperor <b><span style="color: #ff0000">February 26th</span></b> 364 AD after the death of Jovian who only ruled for 8 months. He was a capable general and performed admirably on behalf of the empire considering the advanced state of decay he currently found himself in. To begin with, he appoints his brother Valens co-emperor and is entrusted with the eastern half of the empire. A few years later, he also appointed his young son Gratian co-ruler of the West in case anything happened while he campaigned against the ubiquitous barbarians. That something happened in 375 when he suffered a stroke while angrily yelling to a Quadi delegation that had offended him.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>The coinage</b></p><p>The monetary system inherited by <b>Valentinian</b> I from his predecessor Jovian comprised a coinage in gold, unchanged since the time of Constantine, in silver, as reformed in 355 AD by Constantius II, and in bronze, as reformed in 361 by Julian.</p><p><br /></p><p>When <b>Valentinian</b> was crowned Emperor in 364 AD, he proceeded (with his co-Emperor Valens) to significant emissions of <i>solidi</i>, favored by the use of less pure gold (around 95% on average) cut with silver. This did not prevent the emperor from demanding, in 366-367, that the taxes be paid in refined gold in the form of ingots! The rate of the gold coinage is also restored to around 99% from 368 AD, as evidenced by the appearance of the mark OB (<i>obryziacum</i>) on the reverse of the <i>solidi</i>.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1447112[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The silver <i>siliqua</i> continues to be struck at 1/144 pound (2.25g). There is also a wide range of denominations, including heavy <i>milliarense</i> (1/60 pound, 5.4g) and light <i>milliarense</i> (1/72 pound, 4.5g). The heavy denomination is usually, but not exclusively, found with vota inscriptions; the light one usually have a reference to the <i>Valour of the army.</i> Like gold, silver coinage is purified from 368, which is indicated by the PS (<i>pusulatum</i>) mark. The silver rate will remain around 97% until the end of the 4th century.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1447114[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>When <b>Valentinian</b> came to the throne the Empire was threatened on every frontier by inroads of savage ennemis. We find the coinage adapted to the times in its almost unvarying message that in the hands of its army the state had a sure defense. The bronze was the chief medium employed for this message. It daily met the eye of every subject, high or low, of either empire. When he was elected, his <i>Restitutor</i> type appeared at every monetary mint in the East and the West. This was the normal picture of the coinage when there was a single ruler and no possible division of loyalty. For an interesting analysis of his bronze coinage, please see this article written by our member [USER=44316]@Valentinian[/USER]&nbsp; here : <a href="http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ricix/ValentinianI.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ricix/ValentinianI.html" rel="nofollow">http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ricix/ValentinianI.html</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>It is sometimes challenging to distinguish some issues between Val I and Val II. Here’s an old thread on how to do it : <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/valentinian-s-identification.352362/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/valentinian-s-identification.352362/">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/valentinian-s-identification.352362/</a></p><p><br /></p><p>I personally don’t know any collector focusing on Val I coinage, but maybe you have some specimens in your collection. I’d be glad to see them. <b>Please show us your Valentinian’s coins !</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>Ae3 17mm&nbsp; 2.18g</p><p>GLORIA ROMANORVM</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1447113[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Ae3 18mm&nbsp; 2.72g</p><p>SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1447117[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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