Valens was the younger brother of Valentinian who made him co-emperor soon after his own accession. He then sent
Valens off to take care of the eastern portion of the empire. Making Constantinople his capital, he dealt with the Persian factor as best he could which wasn 't all that great and saw his borders shrink as a consequence. His ineptitude showed most compellingly at the battle of Adrianople in 378. Resettled barbarians had been allowed within the nominal borders of the empire but were allowed to keep their arms. As the barbarians became squeezed from the double whammy of external tribes pushing against their lands and the systematic and extra-official hard-line policies of lower Roman government officials they became aggressive once more and aimed to push southward.
Near the city of Adrianople they gathered with the intention of making war and
Valens prepared to meet them in battle. He sent for reinforcements from
Gratian but before these could arrive he figured in a bout of short-sighted arrogance that he could go at it alone and claim the glory all to himself afterward. On an exceedingly poorly executed attack plan the Romans attacked the barbarians. In what apparently was meant to be a surprise attack, he rushed the barbarians before getting his soldiers into formation and before they had eaten. It was also a very hot and dusty day making their attack that much more energy-sapping. The barbarians watched as their counterparts fumbled and figured out their strategy. Their general sent his cavalry in an outflanking maneuver and managed to encircle
Valens 's infantry and subsequently slaughtered most.
Valens himself perished in battle and the loss of the army along with the demoralizing effect to the rest of the military was another step in the inexorable fall of the empire almost one hundred years later.
As was
just mentioned with Valentinian, his brother
Valens shares an almost identical run of issues. Neither one is represented more than the other while the two reigned though
Valens, outliving Valentinian for three years or so, has a longer time in which to strike coins.
Still, seeing that both are so common to begin wth
rarity is not a concern.
Although quite
rare, both brothers were to strike the last hefty bronze coins, the AE1 class, the empire would see until
Anastasius‟ reform of 498 kicks off the
Byzantine coinage period. From here onwards the bronzes will only get smaller and increasingly shoddier.
Busts:
1) Diademed (pearls), draped and
cuirassed bust left
2) Diademed (pearls), draped and
cuirassed bust right
3) Diademed (rosettes), draped and
cuirassed bust left
4) Diademed (rosettes), draped and
cuirassed bust right
5) Diademed
bust left, wearing imperial mantle, holding
mappa and
scepter 6) Diademed
bust left, wearing imperial mantle, raising hand and holding
scepter 7) Helmeted,
cuirassed bust left, holding spear and
shield Obverses:
1) DN
VALENS AVG
2) DN
VALENS MAX
AVGVSTVS 3) DN
VALENS PER AVG
4) DN AVLENS PF AVG
5) DN
VALENS PER F AVG
6) DN
VALENS PF AVG
7) IMP CE
VALENS PF AVG
8)
VALENS AVGVS
Reverses:
1)
CONCORDIA AVGGG 2) DN
VALENS VICTOR SEMPER
3)
FELICITAS ROMANORVM 4)
FELIX ADVENTVS AVG N 5)
FELIX ADVENTVS AVGGG 6)
GLORIA REIPVBLICAE 7)
GLORIA MORANORVM
8)
GLORIA ROMANORVM 9)
MONETA AVGG 10)
MONETA AVGGG 11)
PAX PERPETVA 12)
PIETAS DDD NNN AVGVSTORVM 13)
RESTITVTOR REIP
14)
RESTITVTOR REIPVBLICAE 15)
SALVS REIP 16)
SALVS REIPVBLICAE
17)
SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE 18)
SPES RP
19) TRIVMFATOR
GENT BARB
20)
VICT DD NN AVGG 21)
VICTORES AVGVSTI 22)
VICTORIA AVG 23)
VICTORIA AVGG 24)
VICTORIA AVGGG 25)
VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM 26)
VICTORIA DD NN AVG 27)
VICTORIA DN AVG
28)
VICTORIA DN
AVGVSTI 29)
VIRTVS EXERCITVS 30)
VIRTVS ROMANORVM 31)
VOTA PVBLICA 32)
VRBS ROMA 33) No
legend Types:
1) City gate with (2) turrets; S above.
2)
Monetae (3) standing, facing, each holding
scale and
cornucopia.
3)
Roma and
Constantinopolis seated, facing, each holding
scepter and together holding
shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XV
4)
Roma and
Constantinopolis seated, facing, each holding
scepter and together holding
shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XX
5)
Roma and
Constantinopolis seated, facing, each holding
scepter and together holding
shield reading VOT / V / MVLT / X
6)
Roma seated left on
cuirass, holding
Victory on globe and spear
7)
Roma seated left on throne, holding
Victory on globe and spear
8) Standards (3)
9) Standards (4)
10)
Valens advancing right, dragging captive and holding
labarum.
11)
Valens advancing right, dragging captive and holding
standard.
12)
Valens and
Valentinian I seated, facing, each holding a globe and
scepter;
shield on
Genius between them reading VOT / V / MVL / X.
13)
Valens and
Valentinian I seated, facing, each holding a
mappa and
scepter; two hunched captives below.
14)
Valens and
Valentinian I seated, facing, each holding a
mappa.
15)
Valens and
Valentinian I seated, facing, each raising hand and holding globe
16)
Valens and
Valentinian I seated, facing, holding together globe;
Victory above and
palm between them.
17)
Valens and
Valentinian I standing under arch, facing, each holding a
scepter and globe.
18)
Valens riding horse left, raising hand
19)
Valens standing under arch, facing, holding spear and globe.
20)
Valens standing, facing, holding
labarum and globe; kneeling captive to left.
21)
Valens standing, facing, holding
labarum and resting hand on
shield 22)
Valens standing, facing, holding
labarum and
Victory on globe.
23)
Valens standing, facing, holding
mappa and
scepter.
24)
Valens standing, facing, holding spear and resting hand on
shield.
25)
Valens standing, facing, holding
standard and
Victory on globe.
26)
Valens standing, facing, holding
Victory on globe and
labarum.
27)
Valens standing, facing, stepping on captive, holding
labarum and
Victory on globe
28)
Valens,
Gratian and
Valentinian II standing, facing, each holding
scepter.
29) Victories (2) standing, facing each other, holding together
shield reading VOT / V
30)
Victory advancing left, holding
wreath and
palm.
31)
Victory advancing right, dragging captive and holding
trophy.
32)
Victory seated right, holding
shield on
column reading VOT / V / MVL / X
33)
Victory seated right, holding
shield on
column reading VOT / X / MVLT / XX
34)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VOT / V / MVLT / X;
Genius to right also holding
shield.
35)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VOT / V;
Genius to right also holding
shield.
36)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VOT / X / MVL / XX
37)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XX;
Genius to right also holding
shield.
38)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VOT / XV / MVLT / XXV
39)
Victory standing left, stepping on captive, holding
wreath and
trophy.
40)
Victory standing right, stepping on globe, holding
shield on
column reading VOT / V / MVLT / X
41)
Victory standing right, stepping on globe, holding
shield on
column reading VOT / X / MVLT / XV
42)
Victory standing right, stepping on globe, holding
shield on
column reading VOT / V / MVLTIS / X
43)
Victory standing, facing, holding
wreath in each hand
44)
Wreath, VOT / V / MVLT / X within.
45)
Wreath, VOT / V / MVLTIS / X within
46)
Wreath, VOT / V within
47)
Wreath, VOT / VX / MVLT / XX within
48)
Wreath, VOT / X / MVL / XX within
49)
Wreath, VOT / X / MVLT / XV within.
50)
Wreath, VOT / X / MVLT / XX within.
51)
Wreath, VOT / XV / MVLT / XX within.
52)
Wreath, VOT / XX / MVLT / XXX within
53)
Wreath,
VOTIS / V / MVLTIS / X within
54)
Wreath,
VOTIS / X / MVLTIS / XV within
55)
Wreath,
VOTIS / X / MVLTIS / XX within
56)
Wreath,
VOTIS / XV / MVLTIS / XX within
Mints:
1)
Alexandria 2)
Antioch 3)
Aquileia 4)
Arelate 5)
Constantinopolis 6) Cyzicus
7)
Heraclea 8)
Lugdunum 9) Mediolanum
10)
Nicomedia 11)
Roma 12)
Sirmium 13)
Siscia 14)
Thessalonica 15)
Treveri
AU Solidus Reference(s) 1) B2, O5, R14, T22, M02 Exe: ¤/ANT` RIC 2c (IX,
Antiochia)
2) B2, O5, R14, T22, M02 Exe: ANT` RIC 2d.19 (IX,
Antiochia)
3) B2, O6, R14, T22, M05 Exe: CONS= RIC 3d (IX,
Constantinopolis)
4) B2, O6, R14, T22, M10 Exe: SMN` RIC 2b (IX,
Nicomedia)
5) B2, O6, R23, T16, M15 Exe:
TROB` RIC 39b (IX,
Treveri)
6) B2, O6, R25, T37, M02 Exe: AN RIC 24b (IX,
Antiochia)
7) B4, O5, R25, T38, M02 Exe: `/ANOB`
8) B4, O6, R14, T22, M05 Exe: *CONS= RIC 25b (IX,
Constantinopolis)
9) B4, O6, R23, T16, M15 Exe: TR•OB• RIC 17 (IX,
Treveri)
10) B5, O6, R08, T04, M02 Exe: ANOB` RIC 16d (IX,
Antiochia)
11) B5, O6, R15, T27, M14 Exe: * over */SMTES` RIC 3b (IX,
Thessalonica)
12) B5, O6, R31, T13, M10 Exe: S/I/MN RIC 16b.5 (IX,
Nicomedia)
AU Scripulum 13) B2, O6, R25, T36, M02 Exe: ¢/ANOB` RIC 26.2 (IX,
Antiochia)
14) B2, O6, R25, T38, M02 Exe: ANT
AR Miliarense 15) B2, O6, R29, T21, M13 Exe: •SISC` RIC 10b (IX,
Siscia)
16) B2, O6, R29, T21, M15 Exe: SMTR RIC 26b.1 (IX,
Treveri)
17) B2, O6, R29, T21, M15 Exe: TRPS RIC 42a (IX,
Treveri)
18) B2, O6, R33, T50, M02 Exe: ANT*
AR Siliqua Reference(s) 19) B2, O6, R32, T06, M03 Exe: AQPS RIC 15a (IX,
Aquileia)
20) B2, O6, R32, T07, M15 Exe: TRPS RIC 27e (IX,
Treveri)
21) B2, O6, R32, T07, M15 Exe: TRPS• RIC 45b (IX,
Treveri)
22) B2, O6, R33, T50, M02 Exe: •ANT* RIC 34d.3 (IX,
Antiochia)
23) B2, O6, R33, T50, M02 Exe: •ANT` RIC 34d.6 (IX,
Antiochia)
24) B2, O6, R33, T50, M02 Exe: ANT•• RIC 34d.1 (IX,
Antiochia)
25) B2, O6, R33, T50, M05 Exe: `C`S= RIC 37b (IX,
Constantinopolis)
26) B2, O6, R33, T51, M13 Exe:
SISCPS RIC 13a (IX,
Siscia)
27) B2, O6, R33, T52, M05 Exe: CONCM RIC 42 (IX,
Constantinopolis)
28) B4, O6, R33, T46, M05 Exe: C•` RIC 13d.8 (IX,
Constantinopolis)
AE1 29) B2, O6, R14, T22, M03 Exe: SMAQ` RIC 6b (IX,
Aquileia), L 962
AE2 30) B2, O6, R14, T22, M10 Exe: SMN` RIC 7b (IX,
Nicomedia), L 2322
AE3 31) B1, O6, R07, T01, M05 Exe: COMTM
32) B2, O6, R08, T10, M02 Exe: ANT` RIC 10b (IX,
Antiochia)
33) B2, O6, R08, T10, M05 Exe:
CONS` RIC 16c.7 (IX,
Constantinopolis)
34) B2, O6, R08, T10, M06 Exe: SMK` RIC 8b (IX, Cyzicus)
35) B2, O6, R08, T10, M07 Exe: SMH` RIC 3b (IX,
Heraclea)
36) B2, O6, R08, T10, M10 Exe: SMN` RIC 9b (IX,
Nicomedia)
37) B2, O6, R08, T10, M13 Exe: * over A/D`SISC RIC 5b.7 (IX,
Siscia)
38) B2, O6, R08, T10, M13 Exe: `SISC RIC 5b.1 (IX,
Siscia)
39) B2, O6, R08, T10, M13 Exe: •`SISC RIC 5b.2 (IX,
Siscia)
40) B2, O6, R08, T10, M13 Exe: D/*SISC` RIC 14b.11 (IX,
Siscia), L 1306
41) B2, O6, R08, T10, M13 Exe: D`SISC RIC 5b.4 (IX,
Siscia), L 1291
42) B2, O6, R08, T10, M13 Exe: M/* over P/`SISC
43) B2, O6, R08, T10, M13 Exe: R/•`SISC RIC 14b.10 (IX,
Siscia), L 1300
44) B2, O6, R08, T10, M14 Exe: */* over `/TES RIC 26b.17 (IX,
Thessalonica), L 1750
45) B2, O6, R08, T10, M14 Exe: M/* over `/TES RIC 26b.30 (IX,
Thessalonica), L 1781
46) B2, O6, R08, T10, M14 Exe: M/`/TES RIC 26b.28 (IX,
Thessalonica), L 1775
47) B2, O6, R08, T10, M14 Exe: TES` RIC 26b.1 (IX,
Thessalonica), L 1705
48) B2, O6, R08, T10, M14 Exe: V/* over `/TES RIC 26b.38 (IX,
Thessalonica)
49) B2, O6, R08, T10, M14 Exe: Z/* over `/TES RIC 26b.35 (IX,
Thessalonica)
50) B2, O6, R08, T10, M14 Exe: Z/• over `/TES RIC 26b.34 (IX,
Thessalonica), L 1790
51) B2, O6, R08, T30, M15 Exe: */TR` RIC 31.8 (IX,
Treveri), L 107
52) B2, O6, R13, T22, M05 Exe:
CONS` RIC 20b (IX,
Constantinopolis)
53) B2, O6, R13, T22, M07 Exe: SMH` RIC 4c (IX,
Heraclea)
54) B2, O6, R13, T22, M14 Exe: TES` RIC 17b (IX,
Thessalonica), L 1703
55) B2, O6, R17, T30, M03 Exe: */•/•SMAQ` RIC 18b.19 (IX,
Aquileia)
56) B2, O6, R17, T30, M03 Exe: */SMAQ` RIC 12b.18 (IX,
Aquileia), L 1036
57) B2, O6, R17, T30, M03 Exe: ¨/SMAQ` RIC 11b.9 (IX,
Aquileia)
58) B2, O6, R17, T30, M03 Exe: ¤/SMAQ` RIC 9b.7 (IX,
Aquileia), L 987
59) B2, O6, R17, T30, M03 Exe: A/SMAQ` RIC 9b.1 (IX,
Aquileia), L 968
60) B2, O6, R17, T30, M03 Exe: B over •/SMAQ` RIC 9b.3 (IX,
Aquileia), L 976
61) B2, O6, R17, T30, M03 Exe: SMAQ` RIC 11b.16 (IX,
Aquileia), L 1015
62) B2, O6, R17, T30, M04 Exe: OF/III/CONST RIC 17b (IX,
Arelate)
63) B2, O6, R17, T30, M05 Exe: •/CONS` RIC 21c (IX,
Constantinopolis)
64) B2, O6, R17, T30, M06 Exe: SMK` RIC 11b (IX, Cyzicus)
65) B2, O6, R17, T30, M07 Exe: */=/SMH` RIC 10b (IX,
Heraclea)
66) B2, O6, R17, T30, M07 Exe: SMH` RIC 5b (IX,
Heraclea)
67) B2, O6, R17, T30, M08 Exe: OF over ¶ / I over R RIC 21b.29 (IX,
Lugdunum)
68) B2, O6, R17, T30, M10 Exe: SMN` RIC 12b (IX,
Nicomedia)
69) B2, O6, R17, T30, M13 Exe: * over A/D`SISC RIC 7b.7 (IX,
Siscia)
70) B2, O6, R17, T30, M13 Exe: * over D/S/`SISC RIC 15b.14 (IX,
Siscia), L 1322
71) B2, O6, R17, T30, M13 Exe: * over K/Q/`SISCR RIC 15b.29 (IX,
Siscia)
72) B2, O6, R17, T30, M13 Exe: * over P/M/`SISC RIC 15b.17 (IX,
Siscia)
73) B2, O6, R17, T30, M13 Exe: •`SISC RIC 7b.2 (IX,
Siscia)
74) B2, O6, R17, T30, M13 Exe: A over K/Q/`SISCR RIC 15b.30 (IX,
Siscia), L 1383
75) B2, O6, R17, T30, M13 Exe: C over !/S over •/`SISCE RIC 15b.38 (IX,
Siscia)
76) B2, O6, R17, T30, M13 Exe: D`SISC RIC 7b.4 (IX,
Siscia), L 1293
77) B2, O6, R17, T30, M13 Exe: K over P/Q/`SISCR RIC 15b.27 (IX,
Siscia)
78) B2, O6, R17, T30, M13 Exe: R over !/S over •/`SISCE RIC 15b.36 (IX,
Siscia)
79) B2, O6, R17, T30, M13 Exe: R over K/Q/`SISCR RIC 15b.32 (IX,
Siscia)
80) B2, O6, R17, T30, M14 Exe: * over Z/A/TES` RIC 27b.25 (IX,
Thessalonica)
81) B2, O6, R17, T30, M14 Exe: */TES` RIC 27b.3 (IX,
Thessalonica), L 1714
82) B2, O6, R17, T30, M14 Exe: TES` RIC 27b.1 (IX,
Thessalonica), L 1707
83) B2, O6, R17, T30, M14 Exe: Δ/=/TES` RIC 27b.20 (IX,
Thessalonica)
84) B2, O6, R17, T39, M11 Exe: */SMR` (
star is in left
field) RIC 28a.9 (IX,
Roma)
85) B2, O6, R17, T39, M11 Exe: R•`
Officina is spelled out in Latin; PRIMA, SECVNDA, TERTIA or QVARTA RIC 23b (IX,
Roma), L 719