Vetranio, 350. Siliqua (Silver, 20 mm, 3.45 g, 7 h), Siscia, 1st March-25th December 350. D N VETRA-NIO P F AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Vetranio to right. Rev. VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM / SIS Victory advancing left, holding palm frond in her right hand and trophy over her left shoulder. RIC 269. RSC 8. Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue. Thin flan crack and with a minor die break and a faint scratch on the obverse, otherwise, extremely fine.


Vetranio was the magister peditum of Illyricum when he claimed the purple in 350 at the request of Constantina, a daughter of Constantine the Great, in order to oppose Magnentius, who had deposed and killed Constans the same year. Though some literary sources accuse him of plain opportunism, Vetranio's coinage implies his loyalty to the house of Constantine and to the reigning emperor, Constantius II. Blocking Magnentius' access to Illyricum, Vetranio voluntarily stepped down when Constantius II marched westward to quell the rebellion, and in spite of the latter's reputation for extreme paranoia, the general was allowed to retire peacefully in Prusa in Bithynia.