Obverse. Photo © CoinArchives
  • 1 Follis 367-375 AD, RIC# IX 14, Pannonia, Gratian
  • 1 Follis 367-375 AD, RIC# IX 14, Pannonia, Gratian
Description

Gratian (Flavius Gratianus Augustus) was Roman emperor from 367 to 383. The eldest son of Valentinian I, Gratian accompanied, during his youth, his father on several campaigns along the Rhine and Danube frontiers. Upon the death of Valentinian in 375, Gratian's brother Valentinian II was declared emperor by his father's soldiers. In 378, Gratian's generals won a decisive victory over the Lentienses, a branch of the Alamanni, at the Battle of Argentovaria. Gratian subsequently led a campaign across the Rhine, the last emperor to do so, and attacked the Lentienses, forcing the tribe to surrender. That same year, his uncle Valens was killed in the Battle of Adrianople against the Goths – making Gratian essentially ruler of the entire Roman Empire.

He favoured Christianity over traditional Roman religion, refusing the divine attributes of the Emperors and removing the Altar of Victory from the Roman Senate.

Obverse

Gratian, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right.

D N GRATIANVS P F AVG (Dominus Noster Gratianus Pius Felix Augustus)

D N GRATIANVS P F AVG

Reverse

Emperor advancing right, head left, holding labarum (Chi-Rho standard) and dragging captive.

The labarum (Greek: λάβαρον) was a vexillum (military standard) that displayed the "Chi-Rho" symbol ☧, a christogram formed from the first two Greek letters of the word "Christ" (Greek: ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ, or Χριστός) — Chi (χ) and Rho (ρ). It was first used by the Roman emperor Constantine the Great. Since the vexillum consisted of a flag suspended from the crossbar of a cross, it was ideally suited to symbolize the crucifixion of Christ.

GLORIA ROMANORVM (Glory of the Romans)
Q in the left field, K/P in the right field
Mintmark ΔSISCR for Siscia

GLORIA ROMANORVM
Q K
P
ΔSISCR

Edge -
Characteristics
Production Hammering
Material Bronze
Weight 1.9 g
Diameter 17 mm
Thickness -
Shape -
Mint
Siscia Mint (SIS)

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