Art Institute of Chicago

Siliqua (Coin) Portraying Valentinian II

Roman, minted in Trier

Date

378-383

Medium

Silver

Culture

Trier

Department

Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

The front (obverse) of this coin portrays Emperor Valentinian II, diademed, draped, and cuirassed (wearing a military cloak), facing right. The back (reverse) depicts Roma seated on a throne, holding Victory on globe and spear. Although the fourth century was a time of tremendous political, social, and religious change for the Roman Empire, the imagery presented on the coins tells a different story, one of an unbroken chain of powerful rulers supported by the deities of traditional Roman religion. Diocletian (reigned 284–305), through a series of administrative, military, and monetary reforms, had brought to an end the chaos of the third century. He also divided the rule of the vast empire under four men, a senior and junior ruler in the Western half and the Eastern half. Constantine I (reigned 306–37) reinstituted sole control over the empire; moved the imperial capital to the new city named after him, Constantinople; and not only brought an end to the persecution of Christians, but also built monumental churches in Rome, Constantinople, and Jerusalem. In 380, Theodosius (reigned 379–95) proclaimed Christianity as the official religion of the Empire. His coin in this case, however, stands true to numismatic tradition; a personification of Fortune appears on the back of his coin.

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