Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Keystone Auction 11 3 Mar 2023
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Gratian. AD 367-383. AR Miliarense (23mm, 4.35 g, 12h). Treveri (Trier) mint. Struck AD 367-375. D N GRATIA NVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS EXERCITVS, Gratian standing facing, head left, holding signum with right hand, placing left hand on shield set on ground; TRPS•. Ghey 8b (this coin); RIC IX 26e; RSC 52†b. Old cabinet tone with light iridescence, minor marks. Good VF.
Ex Vale of Pewsey Hoard, Wiltshire (PAS BM–7D34D9, BM 2020 T702).
Flavius Gratianus was the son of Valentinian I, one of the last capable Western Roman rulers. In AD 367, at the age of eight, Gratian was proclaimed co-Augustus by his father. Only eight years later, in AD 375, Valentinian suffered an apoplectic stroke and died, leaving the western throne to the 16-year-old Gratian. A few days later, a cabal led by Gratian's stepmother proclaimed his five-year-old half-brother, Valentian II, as co-emperor. To his credit, Gratian agreed to share power with his sibling. Gratian established his court at Trier, Germany, where this rare silver miliarense was struck. Gratian was a devout Christian and was the first emperor to refuse the title of Pontifex Maximus. In AD 378, Gratian was on his way east with reinforcements to fight the Goths when his uncle, the Eastern Emperor Valens, was killed in the catastrophic battle of Adrianople. After careful deliberations, Gratian chose the capable Theodosius I as Valens' replacement. Gratian's youth and ability seemed to promise a long reign, but in AD 383 the duke of Britain, Magnus Maximus, proclaimed himself emperor and crossed the channel. Gratian advanced to Paris to intercept him, but his troops, angered at his earlier refusal to raise their pay, deserted to the usurper. Gratian fled toward the Alps, but was overtaken at Lugdunum and executed on August 25, AD 383, at the age of 24.
Ex Vale of Pewsey Hoard, Wiltshire (PAS BM–7D34D9, BM 2020 T702).
Flavius Gratianus was the son of Valentinian I, one of the last capable Western Roman rulers. In AD 367, at the age of eight, Gratian was proclaimed co-Augustus by his father. Only eight years later, in AD 375, Valentinian suffered an apoplectic stroke and died, leaving the western throne to the 16-year-old Gratian. A few days later, a cabal led by Gratian's stepmother proclaimed his five-year-old half-brother, Valentian II, as co-emperor. To his credit, Gratian agreed to share power with his sibling. Gratian established his court at Trier, Germany, where this rare silver miliarense was struck. Gratian was a devout Christian and was the first emperor to refuse the title of Pontifex Maximus. In AD 378, Gratian was on his way east with reinforcements to fight the Goths when his uncle, the Eastern Emperor Valens, was killed in the catastrophic battle of Adrianople. After careful deliberations, Gratian chose the capable Theodosius I as Valens' replacement. Gratian's youth and ability seemed to promise a long reign, but in AD 383 the duke of Britain, Magnus Maximus, proclaimed himself emperor and crossed the channel. Gratian advanced to Paris to intercept him, but his troops, angered at his earlier refusal to raise their pay, deserted to the usurper. Gratian fled toward the Alps, but was overtaken at Lugdunum and executed on August 25, AD 383, at the age of 24.