Show your Vetranio!

[Coinmaster]

Dear coin friends,
A bit unexpected, I was able to acquire this nice coin from Vetranio at the latest EID MAR auction. An emperor who - for a change - wasn't murdered, but enjoyed a state pension. Anybody else got a coin from this emperor? Please show, thanks!

Vetranio. 350 AD. Silvered Bronze Centenionalis.(22mm, 4,80 g.). Siscia mint, struck 350 AD.
Obv. DN VETRA-NIO P F AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. A behind head, star before.
Rev. HOC SIGNO VICTOR ERIS, Emperor, diademed and in military dress, standing front, looking left, holding labarum and transverse spear, being crowned by Victory, who holds a palm branch. A in left field. Mintmark dot ESIS star.
RIC VIII Siscia 292; Sear 18905.

The Hoc Signo Victor Eris reverse refers to Constantine's vision of The Cross prior to the Milvian Bridge battle of 312 after which he became a Christian and to which he credited his victory over Maxentius. (source: ERIC)
I guess the emperor on the reverse refers to Constantine, not Vetranio. Thus showing his alliance with Constantius (see below).

Vetranio was born of humble origin in Moesia and had served well under Constantine I; under Constans he became a magister militum. Fearing the revolt of Magnentius, Constantia, the sister of Constantius, persuaded Vetranio to assume the title of Caesar. He was in Illyricum when he received the newa about the revolt of Magnentius and the death of Constans. Constantia sent her brother a letter briefly informing him about the turn of events; he received the letter at Edessa, where he was facing the Persian menace. He sent Vetranio a diadem and recognized him as a fellow ruler. In order to keep Magnentius occupied, the emperor also sent Vetranio money and placed him in charge of the imperial troops stationed on the Danube.[[1]] In June 350, there was the abortive revolt of Nepotian.

Vetranio frequently asked Constantius for money and military aid to fight Magnentius; he also sent letters to the emperor professing his loyalty to him. When negotiations deadlocked, Magnentius and Vetranio made an alliance; they sent an embassy to the emperor. The ambassadors met with the emperor in Heracleia in Thrace. Magnentius offered to marry his daughter to Constantius and to marry Constantia, the emperor's sister, in turn. They first asked the emperor to lay down his arms and to accept the first honor as emperor. Constantius rejected their offer.[[2]]

Constantius first met with Vetranio at Serdica, and both moved on to Naissus in Serbia. On 25 December 350 both men mounted a platform before the assembled troops; Constantius managed, by means of a strong speech, to have the soldiers acclaim him emperor. He then took the purple away from Vetranio. The emperor led the old man down the stairs of the platform, called him father, and led him to the dinner table. Vetranio was allowed by Constantius to live as a private citizen at Prusa on the equivalent of a state pension for six years until his death.
(source: DIR)
 

 

 

[Roman Collector]

Lovely specimen, @Coinmaster! And a very informative write-up about its history. I have only one coin of Vetranio to show, a CONCORDIA MILITVM from Siscia.

Vetranio, 350 CE.
Roman billon maiorina, 4.77 g, 22.4 mm, 7 h.
Siscia, 350 CE.
Obv: DN VETRANIO P F AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust, right; A behind.
Rev: CONCORDIA MILITVM, Vetranio standing left, star above head, holding labarum in each hand. A in left field, •ΓSIS✱ in exergue.

[Sulla80]

Great coin @Coinmaster, the reverse especially sharp.  Here's a slight variation on the coin of @Roman Collector - (RIC 285 vs. 290) a star on the obverse the only difference:

http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.8.sis.290

 

Vetranio, CE 350. AE Siscia

Obv: D N VETRANIO P F AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right; A to left, star to right.

Rev: CONCORDIA MILITVM / A / •ASIS (star), Vetranio standing facing, head left, holding labarum decorated with phalerae in each hand; star above.

Ref: RIC 290.

[Tejas]

Here is my one and only Vetranio:

Vetranio, 350. Centenionalis (Silvered bronze, 23 mm, 4.46 g, 6 h), Siscia, 350. D N VETRANIO P F AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Vetranio to right; behind, A. Rev. HOC SIGNO VICTOR ERIS / A / •ΓSIS✱ 

 

Edited December 7, 2024 by Tejas

[Coinmaster]

Thanks for sharing these nice coins!
I forgot to share this website: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/vetranio/Vetranio.html.

Does anyone know what the A and * stands for on the obverse and why they're something there and sometimes not on the coins?

Edited December 7, 2024 by Coinmaster

[CPK]

Lovely coin @Coinmaster. I didn't know that he was allowed to peacefully retire like that. It didn't happen very often!

[Ocatarinetabellatchitchix]

Pay attention to these deceptive imitations; several collectors have been fooled by them…

[mcwyler]

17 minutes ago, Ocatarinetabellatchitchix said:

Pay attention to these deceptive imitations; several collectors have been fooled by them…

Yes I understand this type is often faked. I hope mine is OK but, honestly, I wouldn't have a clue.

[Victor_Clark]

 

here is a VERTANIO

 

 

Vetranio VIRTVS EXERCITVM from Thessalonica with spelling error...VERTANIO

Vetranio
A.D. 350
Ӕ2 22x24mm 5.1g
D N VERTANIO P F AVG; laureate, draped and ciurassed bust right
VIRTVS EXERCITVM; Emperor in military dress stg. facing, head to left, holding standard with Chi-Rho on banner, and resting left on shield.
In ex. TESA
RIC VIII Thessalonica 126
 

 

 

this example has a beardless bust of Constantius II

 

 

Vetranio
A.D. 350
22x24mm     3.5gm
D N VETRANIO P F AVG; laureate, draped & cuirassed bust right.
CONCORDIA MILITVM; Vetranio standing facing, holding labarum inscribed with Chi-Rho in each hand, star above, A in left field, B in right.
In ex. • TS∆ • 
RIC VIII Thessalonica 132
 

 

[Alegandron]

My Coin condition kinda reminds me of...

RI Vetranio 350 CE AE3 17mm Siscia mint Emp stdng hldg Standard and Spear

[rasiel]

I'd prefer a siliqua but this one'll do in the meantime :- )

Rasiel

[Roman Collector]

9 hours ago, Victor_Clark said:

 

here is a VERTANIO

 

 

Vetranio VIRTVS EXERCITVM from Thessalonica with spelling error...VERTANIO

Vetranio
A.D. 350
Ӕ2 22x24mm 5.1g
D N VERTANIO P F AVG; laureate, draped and ciurassed bust right
VIRTVS EXERCITVM; Emperor in military dress stg. facing, head to left, holding standard with Chi-Rho on banner, and resting left on shield.
In ex. TESA
RIC VIII Thessalonica 126
 

 

 

this example has a beardless bust of Constantius II

 

 

Vetranio
A.D. 350
22x24mm     3.5gm
D N VETRANIO P F AVG; laureate, draped & cuirassed bust right.
CONCORDIA MILITVM; Vetranio standing facing, holding labarum inscribed with Chi-Rho in each hand, star above, A in left field, B in right.
In ex. • TS∆ • 
RIC VIII Thessalonica 132
 

 

Poor Vertanio. His eye is falling out of its socket, too. 

[kirispupis]

Here's my Vetranio. I didn't know they're widely faked, so I hope I have one of the real ones since I bought this on a whim when the price was right.

Vetranio
5.05g, 24mm Thessalonika mint
Diademed head of Vetranio right "DN VETRANIO PF AVG"
Emperor standing, holding a standard in each hand. "CONCORDIA MILITVM", "A-B", ".TSD." in exergue.
RIC 132

[Qcumbor]

I bought a Vetranio some years ago when his coins had the reputation of being rare, hence pricey : that's what I could afford back then

Vetranio, AE2 - Siscia mint, 3rd officina
DN VETRANIO PF AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right, A - * in field
HOC SIGNO VICTOR ERIS, Vetranio standing left, holding labarum and sceptre, recieving wreath from victory behind him. Gamma SIS at exergue
4.46 gr
Ref : Cohen # 4, Roman coins # 4042, LRBC # 1174

Q

[Praefectus]

https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/praefectus_coins/130/product/vetranio_ad_350__19_siscia_mint_virtvs_avgvstorvm/1518369/Default.aspx

[Praefectus]

Less common Vetranio.

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

 

 

 

Here's my Vetranio (the empty space).  This thread reminds me that I have never got around to filling that hole. There are some nice examples posted here.

[mcwyler]

I recall a CT thread in which it was suggested that Vetranio may have been the last Roman emperor depicted wearing a plain laurel wreath. There were examples with rosettes and diadems afterwards, but not just laurel. Pagan connotations apparently frowned upon by the new Christian order.
 

[panzerman]

Great coins everyone!

Alas I have none from Him either🙄 Pity....

[Victor_Clark]

5 hours ago, mcwyler said:

I recall a CT thread in which it was suggested that Vetranio may have been the last Roman emperor depicted wearing a plain laurel wreath. There were examples with rosettes and diadems afterwards, but not just laurel. Pagan connotations apparently frowned upon by the new Christian order.
 

 

When Constantine I switched to diadems, his sons were laureate; so I think that this was done to emphasize that Vetranio was junior to Constantius II.

[Coinmaster]

On 12/9/2024 at 8:40 PM, Victor_Clark said:

 

When Constantine I switched to diadems, his sons were laureate; so I think that this was done to emphasize that Vetranio was junior to Constantius II.

Or at least in alliance.