VALENTINIAN I (364-375). GOLD Solidus. Constantinople.

Obv: D N VALENTINIANVS P F AVG.
Rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: RESTITVTOR REI PVBLICAE / (star) CONS (wreath).
Valentinian standing facing, head right, holding labarum with cross on banner and Victory on globe.

RIC 25a; Depeyrot 21/1.

Flavius Valentinianus, originally from Pannonia, was a tribune of the cavalry in Gaul under Constantius II, then tribune of the 'scrutarii' (shielded soldiers) at the time of Jovian. In 364 he was chosen as emperor of the West, while in the East his brother Valens was elected, following the division of the Empire that was now necessary, all attempts at reunification having failed. The problems facing the Empire required more than one emperor. For Valentinian the main difficulty was the barbarians: first the Alamanni in Mogontiacum, then the Saxons and Picts in Britain. The various expeditions to Germany constituted a constant and costly expense to keep up the military apparatus. Valentinian also favoured the status of soldiers at the expense of civilians and especially the poor. The emperor faced the attempted usurpation of Firmus in 374-5, then was involved in settling a matter of religious disputes. Valentinian was a Christian, but he did not condemn the pagan faith. In fact, with the help of Pope Damasus, he promulgated an edict of universal tolerance by which anyone could worship the god they preferred. But when it came to preserving the stability of his dynasty, Valentinian did not hesitate to execute several members of the pagan aristocracy who were hostile to him, replacing them with trusted Christians. Valentinian I died in 375 in Pannonia, while negotiating difficult conditions with local leaders. He received the 'consecratio' for reinforcing the borders of the empire, instituting a fixed price scale and the 'defensor plebis'

Condition: Extremely fine; some luster in field.

Weight: 4.46 g.
Diameter: 21 mm.