I've been hunting for a siliqua that spoke to me and wouldn't cost too much money and I finally got it! With its sharp, crisp details and iridescent cabinet toning, I'm honestly amazed it wasn't even more expensive than it was, I've seen examples I would consider less attractive that were selling for hundreds of dollars/euros more than the one I found so I consider it a hell of a bargain! The emperor depicted on this coin, Valens, was a pretty mediocre ruler with some decent things to his credit (the jolly portrait seems to indicate he was an affable, well intentioned man at least) but who would end his reign in horrific fashion, leaving behind a giant mess for his successors to clean up. He wasn’t all bad as he did fend off a coup attempt from the usurper Procopius, cousin of the late emperor Julian, eased the tax burden for his half of the empire (he ruled the East while his more experienced brother Valentinian I ruled the West where this specific coin was minted), and completed a giant aqueduct longer than all of the aqueducts in Rome combined which provided water to the people of Constantinople. Where he failed mightily however was in his handling of the Goths, so much so that it would ultimately cost him his life. As he was dealing with the Sassanid Persians, the Huns pushed the Goths south towards the Danube where they begged the Romans to allow them safe passage so as to escape from the Hunnic threat. This overwhelming mass of people was more than what the Romans were prepared to deal with and their usual tactics for separating and resettling barbarians into manageable groups were discarded out of bumbling incompetence and gross negligence. As the Goths crossed over and attempted to settle within Roman territory, they were abused by Valens’ corrupt officials like Lupicinus who promised to give the starving Goths dog food and moldy grain if they sold their children away as slaves and then attempted to assassinate their top leaders, inevitably sparking a revolt from the Goths which forced the emperor’s hand, culminating in the Battle of Adrianople where the Romans suffered their worst defeat since the Battle of Cannae, losing almost two-thirds of an army which had at least 15,000 men and was the first time an emperor died in battle since Trajan Decius was defeated (also by the Goths no less) at Abritus 127 years earlier. Whatever decent/pretty good things this emperor did earlier in his reign were ultimately blotted out from memory by the fallout of this catastrophic loss. Though he’s largely a failed emperor he did mint what I consider a beautiful coin a least. This will no doubt be very high up on my top coin purchases of 2025 even though the year's only just begun (it might be my new favorite coin to be honest). Anyone else have a siliqua (doesn't have to be of Valens specifically)? Valens. AD 364-378. AR Siliqua (20 mm, 1.92 grams). Treveri (Trier) mint. Struck AD 367-375. Obverse: D N VALENS P F AVG; Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right Reverise: VRBS ROMA; Roma seated left on throne, holding Victory on globe and scepter; TRPS•. RIC IX 27e.1; RSC 109†a. Condition: EF, deeply toned with iridescent hues, very attractive. Tiny chip to the rim.
Ahhhh! MORE than "very attractive". 'Tis indeed a gorgeous coin! Congrats! Nice photography also. BTW: I especially love your example's reverse! My first and only siliqua is also a Valens. But from Lugdunum -- and not nearly as high-quality or photogenic as yours. (I bought it primarily for its Chi-Rho.) 277.A Roman Empire, Valens (364-378) AR Siliqua, Lugdunum mint, 364-367 Obv.: Diademed head of Valens, right; DN VALEN-S PF AVG Rev.: Valens standing, facing, head right, holding Chi-rho labarum in r. hand, Victory on a globe in l. hand; RESTITV-TOR REIP; exergue: PLVG• Diam.: 18 x 16.2 mm. Weight: 2.065 gr. Axis: 12h Attrib.: RIC IX 6f.3
It is indeed a wonderful siliqua; full flan, fantastic toning, and great condition. I have a few attractively toned siliquae, but this one takes the cake!
It's rare enough to come across a full flan example, yet alone with toning of this type. It's also from a western mint, which gives it plus points from me.
Thank you! It may be one of the best coin purchases I've made in my 11 years of collecting. I'm very happy with this one. I'd be curious to see some of yours by the way.
