Valens, 364-378. Solidus (Gold, 22 mm, 4.45 g, 7 h), Constantinopolis, January 368. D N VALENS P F AVG Pearl-diademed bust of Valens to left, wearing consular robes, holding mappa in his right hand and scepter in his left.
Rev. VOTA PV-BLICA / ✱CONS(wreath) Valentinian I and Valens seated facing on double-throne, each nimbate, crowned and in consular robes, holding mappa in their right hands and scepter in their left; at feet to left and right, bound captives. Depeyrot 22/2. RIC 29b. Very rare. A splendid example of this important consular issue. A few very light marks
, otherwise, good extremely fine.
From the collection of a retired senior air force officer, ex Palombo 13, 13 December 2014, 129 and Helios 1, 17 April 2008, 605.
The consulate, once the highest yearly executive office of the Roman Republic, lost most of its political powers and duties under Augustus, but remained a source of prestige well into late antiquity. Here we see Valens in consular robes on the obverse, holding a short scepter and a mappa, a piece of cloth used to signal the start of chariot races. The reverse, on the other hand, shows Valens with his brother Valentinian I, with whom he shared the consulship of the year 368, while the two captives at their feet are clearly a reference to their campaigns against the Goths on the Danube and the Alamanns on the Rhine.
