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Orbis Collectibles

RIC VIII Thessalonica 233

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 363–AD 364

Issuing entity

Roman Empire

Solidus in gold struck at Thessalonica under Jovianus, AD 363–AD 364, catalogued as RIC VIII Thessalonica 233. Obverse: Bust of Jovian, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed, right.

Reverse: Roma, helmeted, draped, enthroned front, and Constantinopolis, draped, enthroned left, head left, supporting a wreath inscribed VOT/V/MVLT/X; Roma holding spear in left hand; Constantinopolis holding sceptre in left hand, her right foot on prow. Obverse legend: D N IOVIANV-S P F PP AVG. Reverse legend: SECVRITA-S RE-I PVBLICE.

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

Jovian served in the imperial bodyguard and was acclaimed Roman emperor by the army in June 363 after Julian died fighting the Persians. Unable to cross the Tigris, he concluded peace with the Sasanian Empire on humiliating terms. He was the last emperor to govern the Roman Empire as a single polity for his entire reign, dying at Dadastana in February 364 before reaching Constantinople. This gold solidus, a denomination introduced in the early 4th century to replace the aureus, was produced under Jovian's authority at Thessalonica during his seven-month rule.

Physical characteristics

Material
Gold
Manufacture
Struck
Denomination
Solidus

Technical characteristics

Mint
Thessalonica
Issuing authority
Jovianus

Design

Obverse type
Bust of Jovian, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed, right
Reverse type
Roma, helmeted, draped, enthroned front, and Constantinopolis, draped, enthroned left, head left, supporting a wreath inscribed VOT/V/MVLT/X; Roma holding spear in left hand; Constantinopolis holding sceptre in left hand, her right foot on prow
Obverse legend
D N IOVIANV-S P F PP AVG
Reverse legend
SECVRITA-S RE-I PVBLICE

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.thes.233
Catalogue reference
RIC VIII Thessalonica 233
Type corpus identifier
ric.8.thes.233
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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