Silver Siliqua of Emperor Valentinian II

Code: 10323

This is a rather clipped ancient Roman silver Siliqua of emperor Valentinian II, dating to 378 - 383 A.D.

Obverse: DN VALENTINIANVS PF AVG, pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right

Reverse: VOT V MVLT X within wreath.

Mintmatk SISCP and Runic S. RIC IX Siscia 24a; RSC 66c; Sear 20246.

This coin was minted at Siscia in Bulgaria, mint mark SISCP, though had traveled a long way to Britain. I personally dug up this coin on a Roman villa complex in Somerset (where it had been buried for almost two thousand years).  

This genre of siliqua is known for the period after the Romans left Britain, see 'The coin clipping phenomenon in sub-Roman Britain'. It is a classic example of this sub-Romano British (a.k.a.the romantic "Arthurian" period) coinage.

CULTURE: ROMAN

DENOMINATION: Siliqua

MATERIAL: Silver

DATE: 378 - 383 A.D.

MINTMARK:  SISCP Siscia (in Bulgaria )

SIZE: 12mm dia

WEIGHT: 0.9 grams

PROVENANCE: Found near Chew Magna, Bristol. England.