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Orbis Collectibles

RIC IX Lugdunum 30A

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Issuing entity

Roman Empire

RIC IX Lugdunum 30A. Denomination: AE4. Authority: Gratian. Mint: Lugdunum. The obverse shows bust of Gratian, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed, right, with the legend D N GRATIA-NVS P F AVG. The reverse shows vOT/XV/MVLT/XX within laurel wreath.

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

Gratian served as emperor of the Western Roman Empire from 367 to 383. The eldest son of Valentinian I, he was raised to the rank of Augustus as a child and inherited the West following his father's death in 375. He nominally shared administration with his infant half-brother Valentinian II and elevated Theodosius I to govern the East in 379.

This bronze AE4 coin was struck at Lugdunum, the city to which Gratian fled before he was murdered in 383 after being abandoned by his army. In numismatics, AE4 designates the smallest bronze denomination among fourth-century Roman issues, averaging around 15 millimetres in diameter, though the specific ancient denominations remain debated. The obverse presents Gratian with the imperial title "D N GRATIA-NVS P F AVG", while the reverse displays the votive inscription "VOT/XV/MVLT/XX" enclosed within a laurel wreath.

Physical characteristics

Material
Bronze
Denomination
AE4

Technical characteristics

Mint
Lugdunum
Authority
Gratian

Design

Obverse
Bust of Gratian, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed, right
Reverse
VOT/XV/MVLT/XX within laurel wreath
Obverse legend
D N GRATIA-NVS P F AVG
Reverse legend
Research required

Identification

Type reference
RIC IX Lugdunum 30A
Denomination and metal
AE4, Bronze
Obverse legend to match
D N GRATIA-NVS 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

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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