Valentinian became emperor after
Jovian 's death. He was a capable general and performed admirably on behalf of the empire given the advanced state of decay it was currently under. To start things off he named his brother
Valens co-emperor and was handed over the east half of the empire. A couple of years later he named his young son
Gratian co-ruler of the
West as well in case anything happened while he was campaigning against the ever-present barbarians. That something happened in 375 when he suffered a stroke after becoming angry at a group of barbarian peacemakers (presumably for offering unfavorable terms).
More than any other emperor of this or the following century, the coins of
Valentinian I (along with those of his brother
Valens) are the most commonly available and affordable. While
Constantine I and his family were prolific issuers of low
denomination bronzes their precious metal coinage is much scarcer.
With Valentinian, and again
Valens, Solidi and Siliquae are quite readily available. In particular, their gold coins are perhaps the easiest to locate except for some late fifth century eastern issues.
If surviving quantity is plentiful enough, the same cannot be said for richness in variety of types. Continuing the trend begun decades before, legends and
bust types become more standardized and the portraiture indistinct.
The vast majority of bronzes will be of
just two types:
Gloria Romanorum and
Securitas Reipublicae both of which were clearly of a militarily propagandist nature.
If this bit of numismatic ennui is disappointing it is at least compensated by a wonderfully complex mintmarking system that spanned his entire reign. It is quite possibly the most elaborate
mintmark system ever devised for coins and may present the collector with the challenge of completing a set of all known varieties (referred to as "emissions"); a difficult proposition given that there are dozens of different combinations!
Busts:
1) Diademed (pearls), draped and
cuirassed bust left
2) Diademed (pearls), draped and
cuirassed bust right
3) Diademed (rosettes), draped and
cuirassed bust right
4) Diademed
bust left, wearing imperial mantle, holding
mappa and
scepter 5) Diademed
bust left, wearing imperial mantle, raising hand and holding
scepter 6) Diademed,
cuirassed bust right
7) Helmeted, diademed,
cuirassed bust left, holding spear and
shield Obverses:
1) DN VALENTINIANS PF AVG
2) DN VALENTINIANVS PF AVG
3) VALENTINIANVS AVG
Reverses:
1)
CONCORDIA AVGGG 2)
FELIX ADVENTVS AVG M
3)
FELIX ADVENTVS AVGGG 4)
GLORIA REIPVBLICAE 5)
GLORIA ROMANORVM 6)
MONETA AVGG 7)
PAX PERPETVA 8) PERPETVITAS IMPERII
9)
RESTITVTOR REIP
10)
RESTITVTOR REIPVBLICAE 11)
SALVS REIP 12)
SALVS REIPVBLICAE 13)
SECVRITAS REIP
14)
SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE 15)
SPES R P 16) TRIVMFATOR
GENT BARB
17)
VICTORES AVGVSTI 18)
VICTORIA AVG 19)
VICTORIA AVGG 20)
VICTORIA AVGVSTE
21)
VICTORIA AVGVSTI N 22)
VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM 23)
VICTORIA DD NN AVG 24)
VICTORIA DN
AVGVSTI 25)
VICTORIAE DN AVG
26) VICTORIAS AVGVSTORVM
27)
VIRTVS EXERCITVS 28)
VIRTVS EXSERCITI
29)
VIRTVS ROMANI
EXERCITVS 30)
VIRTVS ROMANORVM 31)
VOTA PVBLICA 32)
VRBS ROMA 33) No
legend Types:
1) City gate with (2) turrets, letter S above.2)
Constantinopolis seated left, stepping on galley prow, holding
Victory on globe and
scepter.
3)
Monetae (3) standing, facing, holding
scale and
cornucopia.
4)
Roma and
Constantinopolis seated, facing, holding
scepter and together
shield reading VOT / X / MVL / XX
5)
Roma and
Constantinopolis seated, facing, holding
scepter and together
shield reading VOT / V / MVL / X
6)
Roma seated left, holding
Victory on globe and spear.
7)
Roma seated, facing, holding
Victory on globe and
cornucopia next to
Constantinopolis, holding
Victory on globe and
scepter.
8) Standards (4)
9)
Valentinian I advancing right, dragging captive and holding
labarum 10)
Valentinian I and
Valens seated, facing, each holding globe and
scepter;
shield reading VOT / V / MVL / X placed on
genius in between them.
11)
Valentinian I and
Valens seated, facing, each holding
mappa and
scepter.
12)
Valentinian I and
Valens seated, facing, each holding
mappa and
scepter; seated captive on either
side.
13)
Valentinian I and
Valens seated, facing, each holding
mappa and together globe;
Victory above and between them.
14)
Valentinian I and
Valens seated, facing, holding together globe; in between,
Victory above and
palm below.
15)
Valentinian I and
Valens seated, facing, holding together globe;
Victory hovering above, crowning them both.
16)
Valentinian I and
Valens standing under arch, facing, each holding globe and
scepter.
17)
Valentinian I and
Valens standing, facing, each holding globe and
labarum.
18)
Valentinian I and
Valens standing, facing, each holding
labarum and globe.
19)
Valentinian I and
Valens standing, facing, each holding
labarum and together a
Victory on globe crowning both.
20)
Valentinian I and
Valens standing, facing, each holding
scepter and together a
Victory on globe crowning both.
21)
Valentinian I riding horse left, raising hand.
22)
Valentinian I riding oncoming
quadriga, dropping coins and holding
Victory on globe
23)
Valentinian I standing right, receiving
shield from Hand of God above.
24)
Valentinian I standing under arch, facing, holding spear and globe.
25)
Valentinian I standing, facing, holding
labarum and globe;
Victory to right crowning him and seated captive to left.
26)
Valentinian I standing, facing, holding
labarum and resting hand on
shield.
27)
Valentinian I standing, facing, holding
labarum and
Victory on globe.
28)
Valentinian I standing, facing, holding
labarum and
Victory on globe; kneeling captive to left.
29)
Valentinian I standing, facing, holding
labarum and
Victory on globe;
eagle with
wreath in beak to lower right.
30)
Valentinian I standing, facing, holding spear and resting hand on
shield 31)
Valentinian I standing, facing, holding
Victory on globe and
labarum; captive on either
side.
32)
Valentinian I standing, facing, stepping on captive, holding
labarum and
Victory on globe.
33) Victories (2) standing, facing each other, together holding
shield reading VOT / V
34)
Victory advancing left, holding
wreath and
palm 35)
Victory advancing right, dragging captive and holding
trophy.
36)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VOT / V / MVL / X
37)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VOT / V / MVL / X;
Genius to lower right also holding
shield.
38)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VOT / V / MVLT / X;
Genius to lower right also holding
shield 39)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VOT / V;
Genius to lower right also holding
shield.
40)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VOT / X / MVL / XX
41)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XX
42)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VOT / X / VOT / XV
43)
Victory standing left, stepping on captive, holding
wreath and
trophy.
44)
Victory standing right, stepping on globe, holding
shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XV on
column.
45)
Victory standing, facing, holding
wreath and
shield on
column reading VOT / X / MVLT / XX; captive on either
side.
46)
Victory standing, facing, holding
wreath in each hand.
47)
Wreath, VOT / V within.
48)
Wreath, VOT / V / MVL / X within
49)
Wreath, VOT / V / MVLT / X within
50)
Wreath, VOT / VX / MVLT / XX within
51)
Wreath, VOT / X / MVLT / XV within.
52)
Wreath, VOT / X / MVLT / XX within.
53)
Wreath,
VOTIS / V / MVLTIS / X within
54)
Wreath,
VOTIS / X / MVLTIS / XV within
55)
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, O2, R10, T27, M02 Exe: ANT`• RIC 2a (IX,
Antiochia)
2) B2, O2, R10, T27, M04 Exe: KONST RIC 1a (IX,
Arelate)
3) B2, O2, R10, T27, M08 Exe: SMLVG RIC 1a (IX,
Lugdunum)
4) B2, O2, R10, T27, M10 Exe: SMN` RIC 2a (IX,
Nicomedia)
5) B2, O2, R10, T27, M11 Exe: •R`¯ RIC 11 (IX,
Roma)
6) B2, O2, R19, T14, M15 Exe: TR•OB• RIC 17a (IX,
Treveri)
7) B2, O2, R30, T20, M05 Exe: `
CONS¯ RIC 5a (IX,
Constantinopolis)
8) B3, O2, R10, T27, M02 Exe: •ANT`• RIC 2b (IX,
Antiochia)
9) B3, O2, R19, T14, M15 Exe:
TROB` RIC 17b (IX,
Treveri)
10) B3, O2, R22, T41, M05 Exe: `/CONOB
11) B3, O2, R22, T42, M02 Exe: `/ANOB` RIC 22b (IX,
Antiochia)
12) B4, O2, R11, T32, M13 Exe: */SMSISC¯ RIC 1a (IX,
Siscia)
13) B4, O2, R31, T11, M09 Exe: MED RIC 3a (IX, Mediolanum)
14) B4, O2, R31, T12, M05 Exe: *CONS= RIC 29a (IX,
Constantinopolis)
15) B7, O2, R17, T15, M15 Exe: TR•OB RIC 16b (IX,
Treveri)
AU 1½ Scripulum
16) B2, O2, R07, T37, M14 Exe: TES• RIC 15 (IX,
Thessalonica)
AR Miliarense 17) B2, O2, R22, T44, M11 Exe: R` RIC 8a
corrected (IX,
Roma)
18) B2, O2, R27, T26, M13 Exe: •SISC` RIC 10a (IX,
Siscia)
19) B6, O2, R26, T33, M05 Exe: CONSP` RIC 10 (IX,
Constantinopolis)
AR Siliqua 20) B2, O2, R32, T06, M11 Exe: R` RIC 11a (IX,
Roma)
21) B2, O2, R32, T06, M15 Exe: TRP` RIC 27a (IX,
Treveri)
22) B2, O2, R33, T47, M05 Exe: CP•` RIC 13a (IX,
Constantinopolis)
23) B2, O2, R33, T50, M05 Exe: C`S RIC 38a (IX,
Constantinopolis)
24) B2, O2, R33, T52, M05 Exe: `C`S= RIC 37a (IX,
Constantinopolis)
AE1 Reference(s) 25) B2, O2, R10, T27, M05 Exe: CONSP` RIC 15 (IX,
Constantinopolis), L 2065
26) B2, O2, R10, T27, M07 Exe: SMH` RIC 1a (IX,
Heraclea), L 1915
27) B2, O2, R10, T27, M10 Exe: SMN` L 2321
AE3 28) B2, O2, R05, T09, M03 Exe: •SMAQ`• RIC 11a.15 (IX,
Aquileia), L 1023
29) B2, O2, R05, T09, M07 Exe: SMH` RIC 3a (IX,
Heraclea), L 1919
30) B2, O2, R05, T09, M10 Exe: SMN` RIC 9a (IX,
Nicomedia), L 2334
31) B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: * over A/D`SISC RIC 5a.7 (IX,
Siscia), L 1294
32) B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: */•`SISC RIC 5a.9 (IX,
Siscia)
33) B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: •`SISC RIC 5a.2 (IX,
Siscia), L 1275
34) B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: D/*`SISC RIC 14a.11 (IX,
Siscia), L 1305
35) B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: D`SISC RIC 5a.4 (IX,
Siscia), L 1290
36) B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: F/A over K/`SISCV RIC 14a.33 (IX,
Siscia), L 1390
37) B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: F/D over K/`SISC_ RIC 14a.43 (IX,
Siscia), L 1478
38) B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: F/D over P/`SISC_ RIC 14a.44a (IX,
Siscia)
39) B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: M over •/* over R over O/`SISC RIC 14a.21 (IX,
Siscia), L 1349
40) B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: M/* over F/`SISC RIC 14a.16 (IX,
Siscia), L 1327
41) B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: M/* over P/`SISC RIC 14a.17 (IX,
Siscia), L 1331
42) B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: Q/* over K/`SISCV RIC 14a.37 (IX,
Siscia)
43) B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: Q/A over !/`SISCV RIC 14a.30 (IX,
Siscia), L 1384
44) B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: S over •/C over !/`SISC_ RIC 14a.38 (IX,
Siscia), L 1450
45) B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: S/* over F/`SISC RIC 14a.15 (IX,
Siscia), L 1323
46) B2, O2, R05, T09, M13 Exe: S/D/`SISC RIC 14a.13 (IX,
Siscia), L 1315
47) B2, O2, R05, T09, M14 Exe: * over `/TES RIC 26a (IX,
Thessalonica), L 1744
48) B2, O2, R05, T09, M14 Exe: */* over `/TES RIC 16a.17 (IX,
Thessalonica), L 1749
49) B2, O2, R05, T09, M14 Exe: */• over D/TES
50) B2, O2, R05, T09, M14 Exe: TES` RIC 16a.1 (IX,
Thessalonica), L 1704
51) B2, O2, R05, T09, M14 Exe: V/* over `/TES RIC 16a.38 (IX,
Thessalonica), L 1803
52) B2, O2, R09, T27, M05 Exe: CONSP` RIC 20a.1 (IX,
Constantinopolis), L 2066
53) B2, O2, R09, T27, M06 Exe: SMK` RIC 10a (IX, Cyzicus), L 2515
54) B2, O2, R09, T27, M07 Exe: SMH` RIC 4a (IX,
Heraclea), L 1916
55) B2, O2, R09, T27, M12 Exe: `
SIRM RIC 6a (IX,
Sirmium), L 1627
56) B2, O2, R09, T27, M14 Exe: TES` RIC 17a (IX,
Thessalonica), L 1702
57) B2, O2, R14, T34, M03 Exe: SMAQ` RIC 11a.16 (IX,
Aquileia), L 1015
58) B2, O2, R14, T34, M04 Exe: `CONST RIC 7a.1 (IX,
Arelate), L 477
59) B2, O2, R14, T34, M04 Exe: SMK` RIC 11a (IX, Cyzicus), L 2529
60) B2, O2, R14, T34, M05 Exe: •/CONS` RIC 42a.8 (IX,
Constantinopolis), L 2109
61) B2, O2, R14, T34, M05 Exe: CONSP` RIC 21a (IX,
Constantinopolis), L 2071
62) B2, O2, R14, T34, M11 Exe: R`
Officina is spelled out in Latin; PRIMA, SECVNDA, TERTIA or QVARTA RIC 23 (IX,
Roma), L 712
63) B2, O2, R14, T34, M11 Exe: SM\R` RIC 24a.10 (IX,
Roma), L 730
64) B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: * over D/S/`SISC RIC 15a.14 (IX,
Siscia), L 1321
65) B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: * over F/M/`SISC RIC 15a.16 (IX,
Siscia)
66) B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: * over K/Q/`SISCV RIC 15a.27 (IX,
Siscia), L 1370
67) B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: K over K/Q/`SISCV RIC 15a.32 (IX,
Siscia), L 1389
68) B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: * over P/M/`SISC RIC 15a.17 (IX,
Siscia)
69) B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: * over R over O/M/`SISC RIC 15a.22 (IX,
Siscia)
70) B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: •`SISC RIC 7a.2 (IX,
Siscia), L 1277
71) B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: A`SISC RIC 7a.1 (IX,
Siscia), L 1271
72) B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: C over !/S over •/`SISC- RIC 15a.38 (IX,
Siscia)
73) B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: D over P/F/`SISC_ RIC 15a.44 (IX,
Siscia), L 1489
74) B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: D`SISC RIC 7a.1 (IX,
Siscia), L 1292
75) B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: D/*`SISC RIC 15a.11 (IX,
Siscia), L 1305
76) B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: D/S/`SISC RIC 15a.13 (IX,
Siscia), L 1317
77) B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: K over P/Q/`SISCV RIC 15a.29 (IX,
Siscia)
78) B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: R over K/F/`SISC_ RIC 15a.35 (IX,
Siscia), L 1424
79) B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: R over K/F/`SISCS RIC 15a.35 (IX,
Siscia), L 1426
80) B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: R over !/F/`SISCS RIC 15a.37 (IX,
Siscia), L 1444
81) B2, O2, R14, T34, M13 Exe: R over K/S over •/`SISCK RIC 15a.36 (IX,
Siscia), L 1432
82) B2, O2, R14, T34, M14 Exe: TES` RIC 18a.1 (IX,
Thessalonica), L 1706
83) B2, O2, R33, T49, M12 Exe: `
SIRM RIC 8 (IX,
Sirmium), L 1629