Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XVII 28 Mar 2019
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Valerius Valens Æ Nummus. Alexandria, AD 316-317. IMP C AVR VAL VALENS P F AVG, laureate head right / IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG, Jupiter standing left wearing chlamys across left shoulder, holding sceptre and Victory on globe, eagle at feet to left with wreath in beak; K to left, wreath over X B to right, ALE in exergue. RIC 19 var. (officina not recorded); C. 2 var.
(same); Sternberg sale VII, 1977, 1026 (same obv. die). 3.12g, 22mm, 6h.
Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; one of fewer than a dozen known examples.
Very much a pawn in the civil war between the two Augusti Licinius I and Constantine, the extremely short reign of Valerius Valens ended with his death at the hands of Licinius I after only three months as Augustus. Having previously been a general in Licinius' army, Valens was elevated during the civil war against Constantine and was subsequently executed once a truce had been agreed between Licinius and Constantine. According to the later work Excerpta de legationibus ad gentes, Constantine's reaction to Licinius' messenger regarding the appointment of Valerius Valens was as follows:
"The emperor made clear the extent of his rage by his facial expression and by the contortion of his body. Almost unable to speak, he said, "We have not come to this present state of affairs, nor have we fought and triumphed from the ocean till where we have now arrived, just so that we should refuse to have our own brother-in-law as joint ruler because of his abominable behaviour, and so that we should deny his close kinship, but accept that vile slave. [Valens] with him into imperial college". (Excerpta de legationibus ad gentes at N.C. Lieu, D. Montserrat, 1996 p.58).
Civil war had begun when Constantine invaded Licinius' Balkan provinces in 316. Valerius was one of Licinius' generals and fought at the battle of Cibalae on October 8 316 which ended in an overwhelming defeat for Licinius, who was forced to retreat to Adrianople. It is possible that it was there, or even at Cibalae, that Licinius symbolically deposed Constantine and declared Valens nominal co-emperor in the west. Constantine's army pursued Licinius and the resulting battle saw heavy casualties on both sides, ending indecisively. Since victory was unobtainable for either side, a truce was agreed and finalized at Serdica on 1 March 317. The conditions included Licinius recognising Constantine as Senior Augustus, his ceding of much of the Balkans to Constantine and to depose Valens from his position as Augustus in the east. It is unclear whether it was a condition of the truce for Valens to be executed or if this was Licinius' idea as a sign of his faith in the new arrangement.
During this short period, coinage was struck in identical style to Licinius' coins with only the name changed for Valerius Valens at Cyzicus and Alexandria - these coins are some of the rarest of the late Roman Empire.
(same); Sternberg sale VII, 1977, 1026 (same obv. die). 3.12g, 22mm, 6h.
Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; one of fewer than a dozen known examples.
Very much a pawn in the civil war between the two Augusti Licinius I and Constantine, the extremely short reign of Valerius Valens ended with his death at the hands of Licinius I after only three months as Augustus. Having previously been a general in Licinius' army, Valens was elevated during the civil war against Constantine and was subsequently executed once a truce had been agreed between Licinius and Constantine. According to the later work Excerpta de legationibus ad gentes, Constantine's reaction to Licinius' messenger regarding the appointment of Valerius Valens was as follows:
"The emperor made clear the extent of his rage by his facial expression and by the contortion of his body. Almost unable to speak, he said, "We have not come to this present state of affairs, nor have we fought and triumphed from the ocean till where we have now arrived, just so that we should refuse to have our own brother-in-law as joint ruler because of his abominable behaviour, and so that we should deny his close kinship, but accept that vile slave. [Valens] with him into imperial college". (Excerpta de legationibus ad gentes at N.C. Lieu, D. Montserrat, 1996 p.58).
Civil war had begun when Constantine invaded Licinius' Balkan provinces in 316. Valerius was one of Licinius' generals and fought at the battle of Cibalae on October 8 316 which ended in an overwhelming defeat for Licinius, who was forced to retreat to Adrianople. It is possible that it was there, or even at Cibalae, that Licinius symbolically deposed Constantine and declared Valens nominal co-emperor in the west. Constantine's army pursued Licinius and the resulting battle saw heavy casualties on both sides, ending indecisively. Since victory was unobtainable for either side, a truce was agreed and finalized at Serdica on 1 March 317. The conditions included Licinius recognising Constantine as Senior Augustus, his ceding of much of the Balkans to Constantine and to depose Valens from his position as Augustus in the east. It is unclear whether it was a condition of the truce for Valens to be executed or if this was Licinius' idea as a sign of his faith in the new arrangement.
During this short period, coinage was struck in identical style to Licinius' coins with only the name changed for Valerius Valens at Cyzicus and Alexandria - these coins are some of the rarest of the late Roman Empire.