Reproduction Solidus of Valentinian I - Valens

Obverse: Rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Valentinian I facing right. Text around D N VALENTINIANVS P F AVG.

Reverse: Valentinian and Valens seated facing, together holding a globe, between them in the upper portion Victory with outstretched wings, palm branch below and between the imperial brothers joint throne. Text around VICTORIA AVGG, mintmark TROBT in the exergue.

History: When Valentinian became ruler in AD 364, his brother Valens was chosen to rule alongside him as co-Augustus. Solidus had earned a poor reputation for only being about 95 percent pure and underweight. Valentinian and Valens decreed that all gold received was to be melted into ingots and tested before it could be accepted for tax collection. These reforms paid off, and the reputation of the solidus was salvaged, with their coins rarely falling below 99 percent purity.

Date: Minted at Trier between 364 and 367 AD

Diameter: 2.1cm