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Orbis Collectibles

RIC X Valentinian III 2071

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Issuing entity

Roman Empire

RIC X Valentinian III 2071. Denomination: Tremissis. Authority: Valentinian III. Mint: Ravenna; Rome. The obverse shows bust of Valentinian III, rosette-diademed, draped, cuirassed, right, with the legend D N PLA VALENTINIANVS P F AVG. The reverse shows cross within a wreath with base ties IIXII.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
2
Photograph views
3
Catalogue references
1

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

Valentinian III, born Placidus Valentinianus, ruled as Roman emperor in the West from 425 to 455. The son of Galla Placidia and Constantius III, he became the youngest sole emperor in the Western Roman Empire when he assumed power at age six. His reign was dominated by civil conflicts among generals and defensive campaigns against barbarian invasions, overseen prominently by the military commander Flavius Aetius.

Struck at Rome and Ravenna, this gold coin represents the tremissis denomination. The tremissis was introduced into Roman currency in the 380s by the emperor Theodosius I as a small, pure gold coin. Derived by analogy with the semissis, its name signified a third of a unit, establishing its fixed value as one third of a gold solidus. The coin's obverse bears the imperial legend "D N PLA VALENTINIANVS P F AVG", while the reverse displays a cross encircled by a wreath with base ties.

Physical characteristics

Material
Gold
Denomination
Tremissis

Technical characteristics

Mint
Ravenna; Rome
Authority
Valentinian III

Design

Obverse
Bust of Valentinian III, rosette-diademed, draped, cuirassed, right
Reverse
Cross within a wreath with base ties IIXII
Obverse legend
D N PLA VALENTINIANVS P F AVG
Reverse legend
Research required

Identification

Type reference
RIC X Valentinian III 2071
Denomination and metal
Tremissis, Gold
Obverse legend to match
D N PLA VALENTINIANVS P F AVG
Reverse legend to match
Research required
Source note
Type description from the American Numismatic Society's Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE); individual specimens differ in die, flan size, weight and wear, and legend breaks may vary.

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Recorded
Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
Recorded
Weight
Research required
Mint or printer
Recorded
Mint or printer mark
Research required
Catalogue reference
Recorded
Attached photograph (check rights)
Recorded

Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.

Catalogue references

Varieties

  • RIC X Valentinian III 2072

    Near-identical catalogue variant (same obverse and reverse legends, type and denomination, differing only in minor marks or bust detail); consolidated into this entry.

  • RIC X Valentinian III 2073

    Near-identical catalogue variant (same obverse and reverse legends, type and denomination, differing only in minor marks or bust detail); consolidated into this entry.

Research required

  • Editorial verification required.
  • Weight, diameter and mint marks require specimen-level evidence.
  • Museum specimen photographs are linked by the source; local photographs and reuse rights remain unverified.
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