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Orbis Collectibles

RIC VIII Arelate 280

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 360–AD 363

Issuing entity

Roman Empire

Solidus in gold struck at Arelate under Julian the Apostate, AD 360–AD 363, catalogued as RIC VIII Arelate 280. Obverse: Bust of Constantius II, pearl-diademed, wearing crested and diademed helmet, cuirassed, facing front, holding spear diagonally over right shoulder in right hand and shield decorated with a horseman trampling an enemy in left hand.

Reverse: Roma, helmeted, draped, enthroned front, and Constantinopolis, draped, enthroned left, head left, supporting a wreath inscribed VOT/XXX/MVLT/XXXX; Roma holding spear in left hand; Constantinopolis holding sceptre in left hand, her right foot on prow. Obverse legend: FL IVL CONSTAN-TIVS PERP AVG. Reverse legend: GLORIA - REI - PVBLICAE.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
2
Photograph views
2
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

Constantius II ruled as Roman emperor from 337 until his death on 3 November 361, having spent his reign contending with foreign wars and internal conflict. In 355, he appointed his cousin Julian as Caesar to govern Gaul, but in 360 Julian's soldiers proclaimed him emperor at Lutetia, precipitating a civil war. Constantius died before their forces clashed, naming Julian as his successor. Julian governed the empire until he was mortally wounded during an expedition against the Sasanian Empire in 363.

Physical characteristics

Material
Gold
Manufacture
Struck
Denomination
Solidus

Technical characteristics

Mint
Arelate
Issuing authority
Julian the Apostate

Design

Obverse type
Bust of Constantius II, pearl-diademed, wearing crested and diademed helmet, cuirassed, facing front, holding spear diagonally over right shoulder in right hand and shield decorated with a horseman trampling an enemy in left hand
Reverse type
Roma, helmeted, draped, enthroned front, and Constantinopolis, draped, enthroned left, head left, supporting a wreath inscribed VOT/XXX/MVLT/XXXX; Roma holding spear in left hand; Constantinopolis holding sceptre in left hand, her right foot on prow
Obverse legend
FL IVL CONSTAN-TIVS PERP AVG
Reverse legend
GLORIA - REI - PVBLICAE

Identification

How to identify
RIC separates types by mint and officina marks, obverse legend and bust form, and reverse legend and type; check the exergue and field marks against the RIC number before accepting a match.
Type corpus record
https://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.8.ar.280
Catalogue reference
RIC VIII Arelate 280
Type corpus identifier
ric.8.ar.280
Source note
The type record is Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE), the American Numismatic Society's digital edition of Roman Imperial Coinage.

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

Research required

  • Nominal weight not transcribed from a primary reference
  • Diameter and die axis not transcribed
  • Mint mark and officina detail not transcribed
  • No rights-cleared photograph identified yet
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