Emperors of Rome - A (Chronological) Portrait Gallery

[Jims,Coins]

 

 

 

Jumped the gun

 

Edited May 6, 2023 by Jims,Coins

[mc9]

My Valens favorites :

D N VALENS P F AVG : pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right
VOT / X / MVLT / XX  // ANT•• : tekst with 4 lines within wreath.
Siliqua, Antioch, A.D.367-375; RIC IX 34b3

DN VALEN-S PF AVG : pearl diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from front
SECVRITAS-REIPVBLICAE //•ASISC : Victory advancing left, wreath raised in right hand, palm in left over left shoulder
AE3, Siscia, AD 364 – 367, RIC IX 7(b) ii

 

DN VALEN-S PF AVG : pearl diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from front                                                  SECVRITAS-REIPVBLICAE  OF /I / LVGPD : Victory advancing left, wreath raised in right hand, palm in left over left shoulder
AE3, Lugdunum, AD 364 – 367, RIC IX 21a, xiva

 

[Jims,Coins]

Sorry

Edited May 6, 2023 by Jims,Coins

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Gratianus AE 2, 379-383 C.E. 25mm 6.2 grams

Obverse: D N GRATIANVS P F AVG - Diademed bust right, draped and cuirassed

Reverse: REPARATIO REIPVB - Gratian standing front, head left, raising kneeling, turreted female Gratian holds Victory on a globe.

Reference: RIC IX 26a Mint: Siscia

Edited May 6, 2023 by Ancient Coin Hunter

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

According to the chart on the first page, Valens and Procopius are 5/6 and 7th.

 

Procopius. Usurper, AD 365-366. Æ (14mm, 2.17g). Uncertain mint. Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust left / Procopius standing facing, head right, holding labarum and leaning on shield set on ground; Christogram in upper right field; [...]. Cf. RIC IX 7 (Heraclea).

Valens (364-378). AR Siliqua (18mm, 1.60g, 6h). Treveri, 367-375. Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust r. R/ Roma seated l., holding Victory on globe and spear; TRPS•. RIC IX 27e; RSC 109†b. Edge broken

 

[mc9]

Where do i find the correct dates? On page 1, it still says 6 mai : Valens and Procopius.

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

I have very few LRB's and even less of them are photographed so I'm pretty much out until Johannes comes around.

I'm also confused.  What's going on?  Was there some schedule change?

 

Edited May 6, 2023 by Nerosmyfavorite68

[DonnaML]

19 minutes ago, mc9 said:

Where do i find the correct dates? On page 1, it still says 6 mai : Valens and Procopius.

That's correct. The people posting Gratian are jumping the gun! Gratian isn't until this Monday, May 8. The schedule is easy to find; just go to page 1 of this thread. It was decided back in February that it's illogical and artificial to divide East and West this early on, when the different Emperors were pretty much all related to each other -- and sometimes appear together on the same coins, as with the Valens solidus I'm about to post below, depicting Valens with Gratian on the reverse.

Edited May 6, 2023 by DonnaML

[Jims,Coins]

numerous corrections made, didn't get most updated schedule

Edited May 6, 2023 by Jims,Coins

[Jims,Coins]

another updated schedule

Edited May 6, 2023 by Jims,Coins

[mc9]

@Jims,Coins:

Thank you Jim, but where do i find it? On which page number?

[Severus Alexander]

Please ignore @Jims,Coins previous two posts. (Jim, you have an outdated version of the schedule there! Can you delete those images, please?)

Here is the correct schedule, which is also the one in the OP on p.1:

So we are on Valens and Procopius.

Edited May 6, 2023 by Severus Alexander

[DonnaML]

My two coins of Valens (I have nothing for Procopius):

 Valens (brother of Valentinian I, reigned AD 364-378), AR reduced Siliqua, AD 364-367, Rome Mint. Obv. DN VALEN-S PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right / Rev. VOT- V- MV•LT - X in four lines within wreath. In exergue: Mintmark RB. RIC IX Rome 10c (p. 118), RSC V 91(h) (ill.), Sear RCV V 19687. 17 mm., 2.00 g.  From 1887 East Harptree hoard (one of 19 coins of this type in hoard; see https://archive.org/details/thirdnumismatic08royauoft/page/46/mode/1up). Ex Spink Auction 16006, 26-27 Sep 2016, Part of Lot 3028. (See https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=1689&lot=3028.)*

My Valens siliqua (marked with black dot) in group photo of siliquae in Lot 3028, 26-27 Sep 2016 Spink Auction 16006 of East Harptree Hoard: 

* The East Harptree hoard was discovered in 1887 on the land of Mr. W. Kettlewell of Harptree Court, while a search for a new spring was being conducted. Mr. Kettlewell kindly made them available for study at the British Museum, and they were written up by John Evans for the Numismatic Chronicle of 1888, pages 22-46. The British Museum was given a few of the most interesting coins, and the rest were returned to the owner. Many years later they were given to the father of the consignor by Mr. Kettlewell's son, and they have remained in their packing ever since. Evans noted \The coins when found were to some extent coated in dirt, and with what was probably a little chloride of silver. When carefully washed and brushed their remarkably good preservation became apparent, and there were none but what could be attributed to the emperor under whom they were struck\\. The coins offered here are as they were when returned from the BM in 1887/1888. Many exhibit light deposit, which could be easily removed by a competent conservator, but at the expense of the mint bloom that is apparent on many. The overall quality is remarkable, and few, if any, are clipped. Large numbers look ordinary to the naked eye, but when tilted towards the light, or examined under magnification, reveal extraordinary quality. (See https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=1689&lot=2858.)

Valens (younger brother of Valentinian I, reigned as Emperor in East AD 364-378), AV Solidus, Treveri (Trier) Mint, 1st Officina, issued 376 - mid-377 AD after death of Valentinian I [see Depeyrot pp. 77, 121]. Obv. Pearl-diademed (with double band of pearls held by single rosette gem at top), draped, and cuirassed bust right, DN VALENS – PF AVG / Rev. Valens & Gratian enthroned facing in single large throne, each with left leg uncovered and right hand on a globe between them; above and behind, Victory facing with wings spread; palm-branch on ground between them; VICTOR – IA AVGG around; in exergue, mintmark TROBC [TR = Treveri Mint; OB = “obryzum, which means refined or pure gold, and is the Greek numeral 72. Thus the . . . OB . . . may be read ‘1/72 pound pure gold’” (see https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=CONOB); C = Capita, for 1st Officina (see Depeyrot p. 52)]. 19.5 mm., 4.42 g., 6 h.  Depeyrot, Trèves [Trier] 45/1 Valens at p. 121 (45th emission for city since AD 337) (26 examples of type from 1st Officina; 33 overall) [Depeyrot, George, Les Monnaies d'Or de Constantin II à Zenon (337-491) (Wetteren 1996)]; RIC IX 39(d)1 at p. 21; Sear RCV V 19578 (obv. ill. p. 324). Purchased from CNG (Classical Numismatic Group, LLC) Electronic Auction 525, 20 Oct. 2022, Lot 1319; ex. “Conti Collection.”*

*This is my only example of a solidus bearing the reverse legend “VICTORIA AVGG” (“To the Victory of the Two Emperors,” see https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=VICTORIA AVGG), depicting two reigning emperors enthroned together on the reverse. This type was “for more than a quarter of a century . . . the main gold currency of the western empire,” issued in the names of all the co-emperors during that period, beginning with Valentinian I and Valens in the 360s AD. See RIC IX p. 5 (introduction to Treveri Mint section.)

Despite relying on Depeyrot and correctly describing the obverse as depicting Valens with a pearl-diademed bust, CNG’s lot description for this coin was erroneous in several respects. Thus, CNG identified the coin as Depeyrot 43/2 rather than the correct 45/1, even though the obverse of 43/2 is identified in Depeyrot (see p. 119) with a code signifying a rosette-diademed bust rather than the code for a pearl diadem, used for 45/1 (see p. 121). As a result of this relatively minor error, and because 43/2 was issued before the death of Valentinian I, CNG incorrectly dates the coin to the period from mid-373 to April 375 AD, and incorrectly identifies the two emperors on the reverse of the coin as Valentinian I and Valens, rather than Valens and Gratian. 

As it happens, Depeyrot 43/2 overall is about four times as common as 45/1 (126 examples cited compared to 33), but the number of cited examples from the 1st Officina, with TROBC in the exergue, is approximately the same (28 as compared to 26). So I doubt that the price of this coin was materially affected by CNG’s errors in identifying it. Although I should point out that CNG’s citation of RIC IX 39b.1 for this coin also appears to be incorrect, independently: as far as I can tell, that type is coded as a coin of Valentinian I rather than Valens. Hence, my citation to a different type. 
 

Edited May 6, 2023 by DonnaML

[DonnaML]

16 minutes ago, Severus Alexander said:

Please ignore @Jims,Coins previous two posts. (Jim, you have an outdated version of the schedule there! Can you delete those images, please?)

Here is the correct schedule, which is also the one in the OP on p.1:

So we are on Valens and Procopius.

Apparently, my word wasn't good enough for @Jims,Coins and @mc9. A man had to speak before they believed it! Because I've shown myself to be so easily confused all the time. Just kidding -- I think!

Edited May 6, 2023 by DonnaML

[Severus Alexander]

14 minutes ago, DonnaML said:

It was decided back in February that it's illogical and artificial to divide East and West this early on, when the different Emperors were pretty much all related to each other -- and sometimes appear together on the same coins

I beg to differ… there are reasons for earlier, later, or not at all. 😉 Note that Arcadius, Honorius, and Theodosius II are related and appear together on coins.  Same for Valentinian III and Theodosius II.

It’s just that a choice needed to be made, and so one was, with due deference to thread participants’ preferences.

[Jims,Coins]

you have to admit there was three different schedules, you blink and it changes, so I guess go to page one and see who is next! 

[DonnaML]

3 minutes ago, Severus Alexander said:

 Note that Arcadius, Honorius, and Theodosius II are related and appear together on coins.  

As I recall, I'm the person who suggested that as brothers who reigned concurrently, Arcadius and Honorius should be placed next to each other in the schedule. Which they were. I do understand that not all of my suggestions were adopted!

[Severus Alexander]

13 minutes ago, DonnaML said:

Apparently, my word wasn't good enough for @Jims,Coins and @mc9. A man had to speak before they believed it! Because I've shown myself to be so easily confused all the time. Just kidding -- I think!

Giving the benefit of the doubt perhaps they were waiting for the thread Caesar, @CPK, or his deputy, yours truly?

But I think it’s clear who to follow, between @DonnaML and @Jims,Coins! 🙃 (That is, if someone can’t be bothered with checking p. 1….)

9 minutes ago, Jims,Coins said:

 

you have to admit there was three different schedules, you blink and it changes,

 

No, there was a discussion of possible schedules and then one was settled on. I guess you accidentally kept an image of the first tentative schedule, which coincided with the finalized one until today. Reminds me of Hume on induction…

Edited May 6, 2023 by Severus Alexander

[CPK]

Yep! Any doubts or questions regarding timing may be easily resolved by checking the posted schedule & rules in my opening post on page 1.

Thanks again to all for the continued participation! Unfortunately I'll be waiting just a few more days before I can contribute again. Till then I look forward to seeing what all you've got. 😉

One thing that has impressed me as we move later into the Empire's history is the level of artistry that is out there even on the often-dismissed LRB coins. There are gems to be found, and we've been treated to quite a few the last several weeks! 👍

[Severus Alexander]

Valens, siliqua from Arles (as "Constantina"):

And a Procopius from Constantinople:

 

Good to see you here, @lrbguy!  Please feel free to post a few of your favourite portraits of personalities we've already covered, as a catch-up... I know our thread Caesar, @CPK, is totally fine with this!

Speaking of which, here's a new Galba sestertius I got since the thread started:

I've always had a hankering for a Galba sest. with this style portrait, I think because of this illustration on the cover of my old Sear catalogue:

Anybody else have some catch-ups they'd like to post?

[Qcumbor]

My poor man's Procopius :

 

And, once again, a double maiorina, for Valens this time, quite a rare denomination for this Emperor if you want to know

Valens, AE1 - Aquilea mint, 364 CE
DN VALEN - S PF AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right
RESTITVTOR REIPVBLICAE, Valens standing facing, head right, holding standard and victory. SMAQP at exergue
8.55 gr
Ref : Cohen # 40 (100Fr), RIC #6b

 

Q

[expat]

My only Valens, found in a group lot

Valens AE3. 24th August 367 to 17th November 375 AD. DN VALENS PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right / GLORIA ROMANORVM, emperor walking right, head left, holding labarum topped with Chi-Rho, and grasping bound captive at the top of the head, D in right field. Mintmark -/D//*ΓSISC. RIC 14b, type x(i); Cohen 11.
17mm, 2.26gr

 

[John Conduitt]

Valens Siliqua, 367-375

Treveri. Silver, 17mm, 1.95g. Pearl-diademed draped and cuirassed bust facing right; D N VALEN S P F AVG. Roma seated left on cuirass holding spear and Victory on globe; VRBS ROMA (RIC IX, 46a.2). From the Thruxton (Hampshire) Hoard 2014. Portable Antiquities Scheme: GLO-9D7F36.

Procopius Follis, 365-366

Heraclea, 1st officina. Bronze, 18mm, 2.67g. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust left; D N PROCOPIVS P F AVG. Procopius standing facing, head right, holding labarum and resting hand upon shield; pellet to left, Chi-Rho to upper right; REPARATIO FEL TEMP; SMHA in exergue (RIC IX, 7.4).

[mc9]

Procopius  : although ruler for a short period, this emperor has a variety of facial expressions.

The third coin is apparently cut but fully identifiable.

D N PROCO-PIVS P F AVG : pearl diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust left
REPARATI-O FEL TEMP  branch // CONS Δ : Procopius standing front, head right, holding labarum and shield set on the ground; Christogram in upper right field
AE 3, Constantinopolis, A.D.365-366, RIC IX 17b var : not attested for officina Δ

D N PROCO-PIVS P F AVG : pearl diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust left
REPARATI-O FEL TEMP // CONS Δ.:Procopius standing front, head right, holding labarum and shield set on the ground; Christogram in upper right field, unidentified object at feet to left
AE 3, Constantinopolis,, A.D.365-366, RIC IX 17a  var :  not attested for officina Δ

D N PROCO-PIVS P F AVG : Pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust right
REPARATI-O FEL TEMP // SMNB : Emperor standing facing, head right, holding labarum and shield set on the ground
Æ3, Nicomedia, A.D. 365-366, RIC IX - , but cf. 10.1 ( bust left ), not attested for head right, no small object at left foot and no ☧ in above right field , 1.78 gr

 

[wittwolff]

I sadly dont have a good Procopius portrait yet

 

 

Edited May 7, 2023 by wittwolff