Nepotian, usurper, 351 (?). Maiorina (Bronze, 25 mm, 5.05 g, 5 h), Rome. FL POP NEPOT-IANVS P F AVG Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust of Nepotian to right. Rev. GLORIA ROMANORVM / RQ Nepotian on horseback galloping right, holding spear in his right hand and riding down an enemy kneeling to left, raising his arm; below horse, broken javelin and shield; above, star. Cohen 1. LRBC 643. RIC 200. Very rare. An unusually well preserved example of this very difficult issue with a splendid pedigree. Minor weakness and with light scratches and small deposits, otherwise, good very fine.


In the wake of Magnentius' usurpation of the western empire in 350, Nepotian, a nephew of Constantine the Great, marched on Rome with nothing more than a band of gladiators (Eutropius 10.11) and made himself master of the city. Though Nepotian's rebellion is usually placed in 350, some evidence rather points to 351 as the date of his coup (see Shawn Caza: Redating Nepotian's Usurpation and the Coinage of Magnentius, in: KOINON I (2018), pp. 64-80). Whatever the case may be, Magnentius quickly retaliated, and after a reign of merely 28 days, Nepotian was ignominiously deposed, and his severed head was paraded through the city.