Leu Numismatik AG
Auction 7 24-25 Oct 2020
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Procopius, usurper, 365-366. Solidus (Gold, 21 mm, 4.48 g, 6 h), Nicomedia, late 365-27 May 366. D N PROCO-PIVS AVG Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Procopius to right. Rev. REPARATI-O FEL TEMP / SMNЄ• Procopius standing front in military, head to right, holding spear in his right hand and placing his left on ornate shield. Depeyrot 17/1. RIC 1. Extremely rare, one of a very few known solidi of Procopius from Nicomedia. A beautifully struck and attractive piece with a superb portrait. Minor flan faults on the obverse and very slightly rough, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.
The usurper Procopius was a cousin of Julian II and hence a threat to the rule of, first, Jovian and, later, Valentinian I and Valens. Fearing for his life, Procopius managed to escape from captivity in 364 and hid with his family in the Tauric Chersonese. In 365, the fugitive returned to Chalkedon, reportedly hungering and unaware of current events, where he sought help from the influential senator Strategius. This sounds suspiciously like a later invention to exonerate Strategius, as it turned out that Procopius just so happened to arrive when two of Julian's old legions were resting in the capital. On 28 September 365, the soldiers proclaimed him emperor, whereupon he quickly gained control over Thrace and Bithynia. However, when the alerted Valens showed up in the spring of the next year, Procopius' generals Gomoarius and Agilo defected to him in the Battle of Thyatira. The usurper was captured and executed shortly thereafter, allegedly by fastening him to two trees bent down with forces, which were then released to rip him apart.
The usurper Procopius was a cousin of Julian II and hence a threat to the rule of, first, Jovian and, later, Valentinian I and Valens. Fearing for his life, Procopius managed to escape from captivity in 364 and hid with his family in the Tauric Chersonese. In 365, the fugitive returned to Chalkedon, reportedly hungering and unaware of current events, where he sought help from the influential senator Strategius. This sounds suspiciously like a later invention to exonerate Strategius, as it turned out that Procopius just so happened to arrive when two of Julian's old legions were resting in the capital. On 28 September 365, the soldiers proclaimed him emperor, whereupon he quickly gained control over Thrace and Bithynia. However, when the alerted Valens showed up in the spring of the next year, Procopius' generals Gomoarius and Agilo defected to him in the Battle of Thyatira. The usurper was captured and executed shortly thereafter, allegedly by fastening him to two trees bent down with forces, which were then released to rip him apart.