Late Roman Coins for sale, Valentinian and later (364 AD - 498 AD).
Coins of the late 4th century are among the least expensive of all ancient coins. I recommend the inexpensive paperback book (possibly in your public or school library) by the ancient author Ammianus Marcellinus: The Later Roman Empire (AD. 354-378) translated by Walter Hamilton, Penguin Books, 1986. Books 26-31 cover Valentinian I through the death of Valens at the Battle of Adrianople. This is 130 pages of an original ancient source. Highly recommended to bring the coins and time period alive.
References for the history of the period are listed here: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ricix/referencesRICIX.html
References for the coins of the period are listed here: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ricix/index.html#references
What's new? 2024, Jan. 27: Valentinian RESTITVTOR REIP. DO Late Roman, a very good book.
TERMS: Prices are in brackets: [$xx]. I accept PayPal and Zelle (Why I prefer Zelle in the US) and checks and cash. Postage in the US is $2 for orders up to $25, $3 for orders up to $50, $4 for orders up to $100, and an additional $2 for each hundred thereafter. Usually an additional $3 to other countries. From other countries I accept PayPal and prefer TransferWise. Here is why: http://augustuscoins.com/TW.html . More-detailed terms of sale are here.
After I confirm by e-mail that I still have the coin, you can pay by logging into your account and sending PayPal or Zelle payment to my e-mail address.
To order, or simply to ask a question, e-mail me, Warren, at: 
which is also my PayPal address.
I mark coins "SOLD" in purple promptly when they sell.
Recent: . 2024, Jan. 27: Coins added. A really good book offered.
Special types include a rare Valentinian III, a very rare Theodosius II, and an AE2 of Leo I.
Links: Valentinian, Valens, Procopius, Gratian, Valentinian II, Theodosius, Aelia Flacilla, Magnus Maximus, Arcadius, Honorius, Johannes,
Theodosius II, Valentinian III, Leo I
[A few new offerings are at the top. Skip down to coins in chronological order of the emperors.]
Newest next:
Comment: I have been collecting late Roman AE from Valentinian and later for over 40 years. In the late 1990s I wrote an educational website on them, updated many times since then:
http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ricix/ (named RIC IX because most of them are in that volume of RIC) which has been revised many times since then.
BOOK!
Late Roman Coins In the Dumbarton Oaks Collection [Arcadius (included) to Anastasius (excluded)] by Grierson and Mays, which is a massive hardcover book of 499 pages and 37 page-plates with 955 coins well-photographed lots of excellent commentary, charts, etc. Nice dustjacket. I love this book for very late Roman coins. It is much like the Dumbarton Oaks Byzantine catalogs, but for earlier coins. It is on Amazon, used, lowest at $90. Here, an excellent copy, only the former owner's name in pencil [which could be erased] on the flyleaf, for $75 + $8 shipping (it is heavy!).
Valentinian I, 364-379
19-18 mm.
RESTITVTOR REIP
SMHA
RIC IX Heraclea 4a "R2" (not other officina or issues from Heraclea, but from othr mints.
Nice cover. Well-centered. [$34]
Gratian, 367-383. Follis (bronze, 2.34 g, 18 mm), Antioch. D N GRATIA-NVS P F AVG Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Gratian to right. Rev. VIRTVS RO-MANORVM Roma seated facing, holding globe in her right hand and inverted spear in her left; ANTA. In exergue. RIC Antioch 50a
This reverse type is for Gratian and not other emperors.
Lovely cover over black patina. Excellent portrait, hair, and diadem, and centering. [$33] Please compare to vcoins prices.
Theodosius, 379-395
AE2. 23.7 mm. 4.80 grams.
VIRTVS EXERCITI
SMKB for Cyzicus
Emperor standing right holding standard and globe, with captive to right.
Lovely reddish surfaces.
[$28]
Arcadius, son of Theodosius
383-408
22.6-19.9 mm. 4.00 grams.
VIRTVS EXERCITI
Emperor standing right holding standard and globe, with captive to right.
ANTS for Antioch,
with lovely "Antioch patina".
[$26]
Eudoxia, wife ofArcadius. However, she was not just a wife, but effectively ruler. Read more here: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ricix/Eudoxia.html
AEL EVDOXIA AVG
16 mm. 2.40 grams.
Aelia in elaborate headdress right, with hand of God crowning her (a Christian reference)
GLORIA ROMANORVM
Empress seated facing, being crowned by a mall hand of God
ALEA
Alexandria mint
RIC X Arcadius 84, page 248 "400-401." Sear V 20891. DOC 294. Struck 403-404.
[DOC and RIC do not agree on when it was struck]
Please compare with vcoins prices]
Nice earthen cover [$38 SOLD]
Jovian, 363-364
AE3. 19 mm.
DN IOVIANVS PF AVG
VOT/V/MVLT/X
BSISC in exergue
RIC VIII Siscia 426 "scarce"
Obverse with lovely even green patina and name fully on the flan. [$39, reduced to $31]
[Please compare to vcoins prices.]
Aelia Flaccilla, wife of Theodosius (379-395)
Gratian, 367-383
19-18 mm. 2.09 grams
DN GRATIANVS PF AVG
AE3. VIRTVS ROMANORVM.
Roma seated front, head left, holding globe and reversed spear.
RIC Antioch 50a.1 Struck 378-383.
Only for Gratian, except for very rare examples for Theodosius and extremely rare examples for Valentinian II.
[$33 SOLD]
Coins by emperor in chronological order:
Links: Valentinian, Valens, Procopius, Gratian, Valentinian II, Theodosius, Aelia Flacilla, Magnus Maximus, Arcadius, Honorius, Theodosius II, Valentinian III, Leo I
Valentinian (364-375)
Valentinian, 364-375
Struck at Thessalonica: TESA
SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE, Victory left
RIC IX Thessaloncia 16a (first issue from Thessalonica)
EF. Nice green patina. [$29]
[sold]
Gratian
His vows for year 15
VOT XV MVLT XX
His vows for year 15, multiplied to year 20. This type is only for Gratian.
SCON
Mint of Arelate
Lovely surfaces, full mintmark [$24 SOLD]
Gratian. 367-383.
15 mm. 1.68 grams.
VOT/XV/MVLT/XX
SMRT
RIC Rome 51a struck 378-383
Remarkably high grade and full flan. [$35]
ex Cederlind at the New York International in 1994 [no ticket]
Gratian, 367-383
Gratian. 367-383.
Gratian, 367-383
AE4. VOT XX MVLT XXX in wreath
378-383 (These are vows of Gratian)
AE14-12. 11:30. 1.17 grams.
SMKΔ
RIC Cyzicus 22a Very clear reverse type [$19]
Esty type 24.
Valentinian II, 375-392
18 mm. 2.35 grams.
SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE
SMRT
RIC IX Rome 29c
The obverse legend with "junior"
DN VALENTINIA-NVS IVN PF AVG
That and the small head distinguishes this from the more-common Valentinian.
Esty Type 6.
Scarce. Dark even green patina. My photo didn't catch the nice appearance in sunlight.
[$69, reduced to $59]
ex Harlan Berk in Joliet, Illinois, June 18, 1985 [no ticket]
Valentinian II, 375-392
Valentinian II, 375-392
Valentinian II, 375-392
13 mm. 12:00. 1.38 grams
SALVS REIPVBLICAE
Esty type 39.
Bold, but mm off flan. cross-rho in field left.
RIC number therefore not known
Cost $20 from London Coin Galleries [A shop in Anaheim, California, near LA] in 1990.
Now, [$17 SOLD]
Valentinian II, 375-392
AE3. 16 mm. 2.23 grams.
CONCORIDA AVGGG
Concordia seatd with globe left
three field marks
ANTB
RIC Antioch 45 "scarce"
ex trade for US coins, Oct. 27, 1975.
Little or no wear, thus very high grade. Muddy dark brown patina. [$39 SOLD]
Valentinian II, 375-392
AE3. CONCORDIA AVGGG
Constantinopolis seated, helmeted head right, holding reversed spear and holding globe right, with her right foot on a tiny prow.
(There are two CONCORDIA types. This one has globe right, the other one has globe left)
17 mm. 6:00. 2.25 grams. RIC Antioch 47b.
ex Kern, Chicago ANA, August 1991. [$15 SOLD]
Valentinian II, 375-392
17 mm. 2.15 grams.
VIRTVS AVGGG
Emperor on galley left, holding phoenix on globe, Victory at helm.
384-388
Only at Thessalonica. RIC Thessalonica 61 "refers to the months of Valentinian II's refuge there [from Magnus Maxmus]"
Rare type. (This is not the commoner big galley type. I got 19 hits for "Valentinian II galley" and all were the large AE2 GLORIA ROMANORVM [as next] and none were of this VIRTVS AVGGG type. ) [$55]
Theodosius
12 mm. 5:30. 1.51 grams,
SMAQP (? The P is expected, but not on the flan)
RIC IX Aquileia 47b, page 104, "Scarce, 383-388"
[$25]
RIC Aquileia 36d "Scarce"
[$12 SOLD]
Theodosius I
12 mm. 1.33 grams
RIC Antioch 56c
mm: ANTA(?)
[$10 SOLD]
Theodosius
13 mm. 6:00. 0.88 grams
RIC Thessalonica 65b
mm: cross-rho in left field
TESB
[$15] Obverse lettering significaly better than the photo shows.
Theodosius
Theodosius, 379-395
Theodosius, ancient imitation
18 mm. (Smaller than the AE2 original.)
Reverse type REPARATIO REIPVB
with emperor raising female
ex CNG Baltimore Summer ANA July 28, 1993
with their ticket for $45
Very rare. [$55]
Theodosius, 379-395
Theodosius, 379-395
AE4. 14 mm. 1.07 grams.
VICTORIA AVGGG
TCON
RIC Arles 30d.
Most of these are from Siscia. Finding one this nice from anywhere else is unusual.
Lovely old black and tan cover. [$37]
ex Scott Ulrick March 30, 2003, with his ticket.
Aelia Flaccilla, wife of Theodosius
24-23 mm. Large. 4.54 grams.
SALVS REIPVBLIACE
empress standing
Not in RIC with the cross in field right. Is close to
RIC Heraclea 25 but that is without a cross.
Rare. ex Victor Clark with his ticket. [$135, reduced to $115]
Aelia Flaccilla, wife of Theodosius
Late 4th Century AD
The best educational web reference for late Roman AE (Valentinian I and later) is my own site:
Esty's Guide to Late Roman AE Coin Types, AD 364-450, at
http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ricix/
Arcadius, 383-408 (I collected Arcadius by type and if I could find good ones, I bought extra mints as well. Here are good coins assembled during 40 years of collecting.)
Arcadius
15-14 mm. 11:00. 1.34 grams
RIC Thessalonica 65c
mm: TESΓ
cross-rho in field left
[$22]
Arcadius. AE4. SALVS REIPVBLICAE
Victory left drags captive.
388-403 [RIC] 386-403 [DO, p. 113]
14 mm. 12:00. 1.46 grams.
RIC Antioch 67d2. Esty Type 39.
Lovely light cover and nearly full legends. Outstanding for type. [$25]
Arcadius
14 mm. 6:00. 1.34 grams
RIC Nicomedia 45c7
mm: illegible in exergue
cross in wreath in left field
[$19]
ex Marc Breitsprecher July 20, 2000
Arcadius, 383-40815-14 mm. A tiny bit larger than most
Arcadius, 383-408
15-14 mm.
Nearly facing bust with cross on shield
CONCORDIA AVGG]
[Three G's for Arcadius, Honorius, and Theodosius II]
Constantinopolis seated, foot on prow.
[$17]
[$32] Arcadius, 383-408
AE3. GLORIA ROMANORVM
This type is extremely common for earlier emperors, but not for Arcadius, who became emperor late in this series.
A search of vcoins brings up 327 hits for "Arcadius" and NONE are of this type, much less mint.
RIC Aquileia 45c [$32 SOLD] A rare type for Arcadius.
Compare to https://www.ma-shops.de/saenn/item.php?id=32199
[$23] Arcadius, 383-408
AE2. 21 mm (and thick). 11:30. 6.14 grams.
RIC Heraclea 27b2, mm: SMHB
Arcadius
11 mm. 1.45 grams
RIC Alexandria 13d
mm: ALEΔ(?) [$14]
Arcadius, 383-408 AD. GLORIA ROMANORVM/BSISC. Emperor dragging captive right. A very common type for Valentinian and Valens, but not for Arcadius. None on vcoins as of this writing. If you want the reverse type, you can get it for other emperors. If you want the reverse type for Arcadius, get this one. [$44]
Arcadius, 383-408. 13-12 mm. AE4.
camp gate. RIC 62c, Thessalonica.
Dark green patina. [$15]
ex Dan Clark, July 1986 [no ticket]
Arcadius, 383-408
13 mm.
VOT V in wreath
Full flan, well-centered. Glossy and hard to photogrph.
High quality for type. Try to imagine it without the glare in the photograph. [$15]
Arcadius, 383-408
16 mm. 2.22 grams.
Nearly facing bust
Cross on shield, spear behind right shoulder
CONCORDIA AVGG
ANTΓ in exergue
RIC X 97 "401-3"
Sear V 20807
ex London Coin Galleries (in LA) in 1990 (no ticket)
Good facial details for a facing bust. [$85, reduced to $69]
ex London Coin Galleries (Anaheim, CA) July 1990 [no ticket]
Honorius, 393-423
Honorius, 393-423
Honorius
13 mm. 11:30. 0.88 grams
SALVS REIPVBLICAE
Unusually clear name.
I have looked for 30 years and never found a nice coin of Honorius of this type. Theodosius and Arcadius are common in excellent condition. Honorius must be virtually unknown in excellent condition. [$22 SOLD]
[SOLD]
Coins from my serious collection of Theodosius II, 402-450
Theodosius II, 402-450
13 mm. 1.86 grams.
cross in wreath, no legend
SMKB mintmark
RIC X 449
Hahn MIRB 84.2
Obverse legend name fully on the flan (which is often not the case) [$15]
Theodosius II, 402-450
12-11 mm.
CONCORDIA AVG
Victory facing, holding wreath in each hand
Esty Type 67
Struck 425-450
Rare. [$44]
Theodosius II, 402-450
13-12 mm. 1.30 grams. Slightly larger than most. This has a full flan.
Cross in wreath
Hahn (5th C.) Theodosius II 84
RIC X 443
Sear V 21232. Esty type 68.
Full obverse legend (a bit weak in places) with mintmark CONS on the flan
[$49]
Theodosius II, 402-450
Cross in wreath. 13-11 mm.
[$10]
Theodosius II, AE2
RIC X 460 "R3" (extremely rare)
20 mm. 5.65 grams. AE2, which is very large for the 5th century.
Theodosius II, helmeted bust right, spear facing forward.
DN THEODOSIVS P AVG [sic]
backwards N's in the legend and mintmark CONS
CONCORDIA AGV [sic, they are all spelled this way]
Found only the region of Cherson (Crimea, formerly Ukraine) but with a mintmark of Constantinople.
A rarity! As I write, vcoins has two, one worse and $50 more expensive and the other not better and over $500 more expensive. [$175]
-----------------------------------------
Valentinian III, 425-455
Valentinian III, 425-455
AE2. 22-21 mm. 5.51 grams. Large for the 5th century.
DN VALE -- ANVS P EA
CONCOR A PF ACV (both legends blundered, as always, and backwards Ns, as usual)
CONS in exergue
RIC X 461 "R4" page 276. Struck "?437"
Esty Type 75. Cherson type ES2.
Sear V 21302
Very rare. Very rarely in nicer shape than this one.
One on vcoins as I write, not as nice, at $750.
[$525 SOLD]
Valentinian III, 425-455
12 mm. 1.40 grams.
Rare vota reverse.
VOT/XX/RM
RIC X Rome X 2136
Unusually nice. Mintmark on the flan (unusual!). Bold for the 5th C. [$139 SOLD]
ex Beast coins, long ago (the man I bought it from bought it from Beast, but I don't know when), with Beast's ticket.
A late Roman rare type: 5th century Roman imperial coin from the region of the Black sea. It says "CON" in exergue for Constantinople, but are found only in the region of Crimea (north Black Sea), which has casued some to attribute them to the Cherson mint.
Leo I, 450-457
Leo I, 457-474
AE2. Yes AE2! 20 mm. 4.45 grams.
DN LEO P-RPET AC (perpetual Augustus)
SALVS PVBLICA
emperor holding globe and spruning captive
CON in exergue.
RIC 663 "R4".
When I bought this coin in 1995 from Dmitry Markov the type was extremely rare with only a few known. When the Iron Curtain came down and commerce with Ukraine commenced, more of this type became available in the West. However, it is still rare. They are all found in Crimea, leading many to question whether the "CON" mintmark really means they were minted in Constantinople and shipped to the Crimea, or it the mintmark is immobolized and the were minted at Cherson or Kersh.
Most Leo AE coins are tiny monogram pieces. Most of these Leo AE2's are in poor metal with chips or corrosion. Worst of all, most are tooled (Coins from Crimea are often skillfully tooled). This one is does not have the usual detractions, although the strike is weak in places.
Rare and (as I write) the best on the market for the type (but not the most expensive!) [$275, reduced to $255 SOLD]
Leo I, 457-474
AE4. Small. 10 mm.
"LEO" clear on the nice obverse, which is unusual
Emperor standing, standard in right and holding small captive with his left
[$49]
Zeno, 474-491
AE4. Small. 10-9 mm.
head right
monogram of Zeno (monogram 3 in Carson, Hill, and Kent)
Well-centered. Lovely yellow-green patina. [$49]
Links: Valentinian, Valens, Procopius, Gratian, Valentinian II, Theodosius, Aelia Flacilla,
Magnus Maximus, Arcadius, Honorius, Johannes, Theodosius II, Valentinian III, Leo I
Continue with: Byzantine (and Vandalic), Arabic, and Medieval coins or with ancient imitations.
Terms of sale are here. Prices in brackets: [$xx].
Questions? e-mail me, Warren, at:
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