Address
6 Batak St.
Varna, 9000
BULGARIA
Work Hours
Monday to Friday: 7AM - 7PM
Weekend: 10AM - 5PM
Address
6 Batak St.
Varna, 9000
BULGARIA
Work Hours
Monday to Friday: 7AM - 7PM
Weekend: 10AM - 5PM
39,50 €
Silver Roman Light Miliarense (20.2mm, 04.35g.) Gratian, Antioch mint, struck 368 A.D. References: RIC IX 20c; Depeyrot 32/5 corr. (legend on reverse).
Please allow us up to 3 business days to ship your product. Small variations in shape, weight, and color are to be expected as each piece is handmade.
Gratian, son of Valentinian I, became the sole ruler of the Western empire in 375 A.D., and after the catastrophic defeat of the Roman forces at Hadrianopolis, the Eastern empire also came under his rule. To better cope with the empire, he elevated general Theodosius to the Eastern throne. Because of a shortage of coinage to meet the payroll, Gratian was abandoned by his troops during the revolt of Magnus Maximus. He was overtaken and killed while fleeing to the Alps.
The miliarense denomination was introduced by Constantine as part of his monetary reforms. Struck on two standards, light and heavy, eighteen light miliarensia or fourteen heavy miliarensia equalled one gold solidus. That they were as highly desirable in antiquity as they are today is evidenced by their extensive mounting and use as pendants. The heavy miliarense was struck at a theoretical 60 to the pound, roughly corresponding to the old weight of the now defunct aureus. The origin of the name is uncertain; Mattingly once suggested that its name commemorated the millenary of the foundation of Rome. Epiphanius of Salamis thought it was derived from ‘miles’, being intended for military pay, but the Nomis Glosses imply a silver unit worth 1/1,000th of a gold pound. Neither of these theories hold up to scrutiny however, and the most likely explanation is that put forward by the fifth century metrologist Dardanius, who suggests that the word implied a coin originally worth 1,000 bronze Nummi. Calculations of relative values seem to indicate this is correct.
DESIGN:
Obverse side
Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right
Legend:
DN GRATIA-NVS P F AVG
Reverse side
2 haloed emperors (Valentinian I and Valens), in military clothes, seated facing on a throne; the one on the right holding a scepter and a globe; the one on the left a globe and a scepter; between them a small figure (Gratian) above whose head is a shield inscribed VOT / X / MVL / X
Legend:
SPE-S RP, ANT Г * in ex
A perfect choice for Numismatists, Historians, Military Veterans, Collectors.
Weight | 4,35 g |
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Dimensions | 20,2 mm |
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