Heritage World Coin Auctions
CICF Signature Sale 3032 10-12 April 2014
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Ancients
Valentinian II (AD 375-392). AV solidus (21mm, 4.43 gm, 12h). Constantinople, AD 378-383. D N VALENTINI-ANVS P F AVG, rosette-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right, bust seen from front / CONCORDI-A AVGGGS, Constantinopolis, helmeted with head right, seated facing on throne, holding scepter in right hand and and globe in left; right foot on prow; CONOB in exergue. RIC IX 46(d)1. Depeyrot 33/2. Sharply struck and lustrous. NGC (photo-certificate) MS 5/5 - 4/5. From The Andre Constantine Dimitriadis Collection. Ex Sotheby's (New York, 9-10 December 1993), lot 601 (part of). The younger son of the mighty Valentinian I by his second wife Justina, Flavius Valentinianus was only four years old when his father died on November 17, AD 375. Although his 16-year-old brother Gratian was already Augustus and should have succeeded, the Empress Justina feared a loss of influence and induced a cabal of senior officers to proclaim Valentinian II as co-emperor five days later. Gratian reacted charitably and agreed to share power with his little brother. Valentinian and Justina took jurisdiction over western Illyria, Italy and Africa, while Gratian took charge of the more threatened provinces of Gaul, Germany, and Britain. The dowager empress soon fell into a dispute with the Bishop of Milan, Saint Ambrose, who attacked her vanity and frivolity, which eroded her influence. Things took a more serious turn in AD 383, when Gratian was overthrown by Magnus Maximus. At first, the usurper made no move against the weak regime of Valentinian in Milan. But in 387, Maximus invaded Italy, forcing Valentinian and his mother to flee to Thessalonica and seek protection from Theodosius I, Emperor of the East. Theodosius needed little persuading: A lightning campaign in AD 388 defeated Maximus and restored Valentinian's authority, now over the entire Western Roman Empire. Rather than allow the untried 17-year-old to take full command, Theodosius appointed the Frankish general Arbogast as his military mentor. Valentinian came to resent Arbogast's authority and, in AD 392, handed Arbogast an order for his dismissal. Arbogast merely smiled and tore it up. He, in turn, placed Valentinian under comfortable detention at a palace in Vienna. Locked in a gilded cage, the 21-year-old emperor despaired and hung himself on May 15, AD 392, igniting yet another spasm of civil war.
Estimate: 1500-2000 USD
Valentinian II (AD 375-392). AV solidus (21mm, 4.43 gm, 12h). Constantinople, AD 378-383. D N VALENTINI-ANVS P F AVG, rosette-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right, bust seen from front / CONCORDI-A AVGGGS, Constantinopolis, helmeted with head right, seated facing on throne, holding scepter in right hand and and globe in left; right foot on prow; CONOB in exergue. RIC IX 46(d)1. Depeyrot 33/2. Sharply struck and lustrous. NGC (photo-certificate) MS 5/5 - 4/5. From The Andre Constantine Dimitriadis Collection. Ex Sotheby's (New York, 9-10 December 1993), lot 601 (part of). The younger son of the mighty Valentinian I by his second wife Justina, Flavius Valentinianus was only four years old when his father died on November 17, AD 375. Although his 16-year-old brother Gratian was already Augustus and should have succeeded, the Empress Justina feared a loss of influence and induced a cabal of senior officers to proclaim Valentinian II as co-emperor five days later. Gratian reacted charitably and agreed to share power with his little brother. Valentinian and Justina took jurisdiction over western Illyria, Italy and Africa, while Gratian took charge of the more threatened provinces of Gaul, Germany, and Britain. The dowager empress soon fell into a dispute with the Bishop of Milan, Saint Ambrose, who attacked her vanity and frivolity, which eroded her influence. Things took a more serious turn in AD 383, when Gratian was overthrown by Magnus Maximus. At first, the usurper made no move against the weak regime of Valentinian in Milan. But in 387, Maximus invaded Italy, forcing Valentinian and his mother to flee to Thessalonica and seek protection from Theodosius I, Emperor of the East. Theodosius needed little persuading: A lightning campaign in AD 388 defeated Maximus and restored Valentinian's authority, now over the entire Western Roman Empire. Rather than allow the untried 17-year-old to take full command, Theodosius appointed the Frankish general Arbogast as his military mentor. Valentinian came to resent Arbogast's authority and, in AD 392, handed Arbogast an order for his dismissal. Arbogast merely smiled and tore it up. He, in turn, placed Valentinian under comfortable detention at a palace in Vienna. Locked in a gilded cage, the 21-year-old emperor despaired and hung himself on May 15, AD 392, igniting yet another spasm of civil war.
Estimate: 1500-2000 USD