Eugenius

Augustus 392-394

After the death of Valentinian II followed one of the most embarrassing low-points in Roman history. Italy and what was left of the Roman empire was left leaderless. The barbarian warlord Arbogast wielded power but was unable to call himself the emperor because to do so would have been an outrage so scandalous that it would likely throw the entire empire into complete turmoil. Thus evaluating his response over what to do next, a period that lasted over a year, he decided to name Eugenius the emperor. Needless to say, Eugenius served merely as a figurehead for Arbogast 's desires. To the end of making it all seem legitimate, he sent a series of diplomats to the court of Theodosius in hopes of gaining Eugenius the East 's blessing. Theodosius prepared an army instead and eventually the two met in battle. When the dust settled, Eugenius was dead and Arbogast fled the scene, reportedly committing suicide. This left Theodosius himself as emperor of the entire empire; this being the last such time this would happen. 
Eugenius himself was apparently a scholar and respected former government administrator. He might have found favor with Theodosius had his pedigree not been tainted with Arbogast 's role and had he not shown inclinations to favor paganism instead of Christianity. He is reported to have meant to turn the church in Mediolanum (Milan) into a stable for Arbogast 's horses! This aneote, however, might be but propaganda from the enemies of Eugenius.

By the late fourth century the mints throughout the western empire begin shutting down one by one. Those that remain open for business slow production to a trickle. Rome, once the most prolific and important of mints also limps along with a skeleton crew that manufacture increasingly less skillfully made coins and then only erratically as metal becomes available.
 
Eugenius may be one of the first emperors who becomes rare not on account of his length in office, over a year‟s time, but rather because there just weren‟t many coins made during this time.
 
A few hardscrabble, tiny copper coins turn up on the market with some frequency. Silver siliquae, the most commonly found of his coins, tend to go from $200 to over $1,000 a piece.

Bust:

 

1) Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right

 

Obverse:

 
1) DN EVGENIVS PF AVG

 

Reverses:

 
1) GLORIA ROMANORVM
2) SPES ROMANORVM
3) VICTORIA AVGG
4) VICTORIA AVGGG
5) VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM
6) VIRTVS ROMANORVM
7) VOT / V / MVLT / X
8) VRBS ROMA

 

Types:

 
1) Eugenius and Theodosius I seated, facing, together holding globe; between them, Victory above and palm below.
2) Eugenius standing left, holding labarum and resting hand on shield.
3) Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe and spear.
4) Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm.

 

Mints:

 
1) Aquileia
2) Arelate 
3) Lugdunum 
4) Mediolanum 
5) Roma
6) Treveri 

 
 
AU Solidus Reference(s)
 
1) B1, O1, R3, T1, M3 Exe: L/D/COM RIC 45 (IX, Lugdunum), C 6
2) B1, O1, R3, T1, M4 Exe: M/D/COM RIC 28 (IX, Mediolanum), C 6

 
AU Tremissis
 
3) B1, O1, R5, T4, M6 Exe: T/R/COM RIC 103 (IX, Treveri), C 10

 
AR Miliarense
 
4) B1, O1, R1, T2, M6 Exe: TRPS RIC 104 (IX, Treveri), C 2

 
AR Siliqua Reference(s)
 
5) B1, O1, R6, T3, M4 Exe: MDPS RIC 32c (IX, Mediolanum), C 14b
6) B1, O1, R6, T3, M6 Exe: TRPS RIC 106d (IX, Treveri), C 14a
7) B1, O1, R8, T3, M3 Exe: LVGPS RIC 46 (IX, Lugdunum), C 18a

 
AE4
 
8) B1, O1, R2, T4, M1 Exe: AQ` RIC 59 (IX, Aquileia), L 1108
9) B1, O1, R4, T4, M2 Exe: CON RIC 30f (IX, Arelate), C 8

 

Eugenius Bust

Eugenius Types