Owner Comments:
While many of the coins in this collection were acquired at auction, there is an undeniable romance in purchasing a piece of antiquity directly from its source. This magnificent silver siliqua is the result of hours spent searching through the dusty cabinets of old coin shops in the venerable German city of Trier — known to the ancient Romans as Augusta Treverorum. I was initially drawn to the piece simply for its outstanding state of preservation and breathtaking eye appeal, qualities that earned it a coveted Star (★) designation from NGC Ancients. Yet, it was only later, while researching the piece for these Owner's Comments, that I fully appreciated the profound historical irony woven into its imagery.
Flavius Gratianus (359–383 AD) was elevated to the rank of Augustus at the tender age of eight by his father, Valentinian I. Following his father’s sudden death in 375 AD, Gratian found himself ruling the Western Roman Empire. Rather than governing from the ancient capital of Rome, Gratian maintained his primary imperial court exactly where this coin was purchased. Nestled in the Moselle valley, Augusta Treverorum had blossomed into the "Rome of the North," a sprawling, heavily fortified administrative nerve center boasting massive baths, a grand amphitheater, and the
Aula Palatina, a massive basilica built by Constantine the Great boasting the largest surviving single-room hall from antiquity.
Treveri — a shorthand moniker for the metropolis that probably dated to Gratian's reign (please fact check this) — also boasted one of the Western Empire's most prolific producers of high quality coinage, including this silver silique struck cs. 367-375 AD. The obverse pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust appears older than Gratian's actual age, probably an effort to promote confidence in the wisdom and leadership of the boy Emperor. Notably, the obverse inscription, DN GRATIA-NVS PF AVG, is a very traditional one, probably a conscious effort to project the connection of Gratian with his imperial predecessors. Even though Gratian notoriously disdained the ancient gods, the still invoked the title of Pius and Feliz, which in this context were not descriptors of religious significance but rather the secular indications that the Augsutus ws faithful and promoted the happiness of his subjects (agagin fact check this). Interestingly, the A and V are engraved in ligated form, which almost makes it appear the engraver simply ran out of rooom of th flan, but it lmited to nly a certain time of production so perhaps this suggests was an intentiona; ocnvention to either monitor the coins production ike a mint workers mark or sowthing etc (please fact check and lcean this up as nessary).
The theme of continuiuty with the Emperors of old continues on the reverse, which employs the imagery of the goddess Roma, representing the city and State of Rome, seated on a throne, holding an inverted spear and elevating Victory on a globe. Encircling this gloryful (need a better word here) theme is the epithet VRBS ROMA (City of Rome), and in exergue is the mintmark TRPS dot, wherein the TP stand for (fill in) and SP stand for (fill in) indicated the quality of this money (need explanation and fat checking here).
This reverse imagery on this coin carries a profound irony. While the mint master in Trier was busy striking coins honoring the ancient pagan traditions of Rome and the goddess of Victory, Gratian himself was systematically dismantling the very same (is this ok wqay to say this or is there a better way)?. Gratian was notorious for his disdain of polytheism, and he was the first Roman Emperor to officially reject the ancient, pagan title of
Pontifex Maximus. Even more controversially, in 382 AD, Gratian dealt a crippling blow to the traditionalist Roman Senate by ordering the permanent removal of the Altar of Victory from the Senate House — the very same Victory featured on this coin's reverse.
Beyond his disdain for the ancient gods, Gratian’s reign was defined by his constant interactions with barbarian tribes. He proved to be a highly capable military commander, leading successful campaigns across the Rhine to crush the incursions of the Alemanni. However, his military record is also shadowed by tragedy; in 378 AD, Gratian famously arrived just too late to aid Eastern Emperor Valens, who was slaughtered along with his legions by the Goths at the Battle of Adrianople. Desperately attempting to stabilize the fractured Empire in the aftermath of this catastrophe, Gratian pragmatically elevated the seasoned general Theodosius I to the Eastern throne. (this need discuission it would bvery interesting to point oiut that Gratian for a short period at elast, was augustus of the whole empire...etc)
Yet, his continuous exposure to barbarian auxiliaries fostered a fatal obsession. Gratian developed a deep fascination with the Alans, a fierce nomadic warrior tribe. He began dressing in their traditional garb, hunting with them, and employing them as his elite, highly-paid personal bodyguard. This blatant favoritism deeply insulted and alienated his traditional Roman legions. Consequently, when the usurper Magnus Maximus revolted in Britain and invaded Gaul in 383 AD, Gratian's rule rapidly unraveled. Marching to confront the threat, the 24-year-old Gratian was betrayed by his resentful army, who (or which) pledged/switched their loyalty to Maximus instead. Gratian was captured by his enemies and slain : the Emperor who abadoned Victory, was in turn forsaken by her.
Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Gratian, AR Siliqua, Trier, Struck ca. 367-375 AD, NGC Grade: Ch AU★, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Obverse: Pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right, DN GRATIA-NVS PF AVG (AV ligate), Reverse: Roma seated left on throne, holding Victory on globe and inverted spear or barbed scepter, VRBS-ROMA, Mintmark TRPS dot. References: RIC IX Trier 45c, RSC 86+a.
Image: Sony ɑ 7R Ⅴ camera / Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS lens.